PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. The Board has also remanded several issues including the right knee, left knee, sleep apnea, TDIU, and rating for the right ankle.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment from November 1, 2010, to September 10, 2014, and from November 1, 2014, to February 4, 2021. A rating of 100 percent is granted for this period.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for his service-connected acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD.,Service connection for muscle joint pain and cramps, as due to Gulf War Syndrome, is granted.,Service connection for abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting (claimed as a pancreatic condition), as due to Gulf War Syndrome, is granted.

The Board has vacated its May 2017 decision denying an earlier effective date for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's August 1971 claim was not a valid claim for service connection. The Board concluded that the earliest date of claim is August 10, 2009, and thus denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an updated VA examination and opinion regarding whether any current psychiatric disability was superimposed on top of the Veteran's diagnosed personality disorder while in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current diagnosis for service connection, and now requires a new VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of right knee condition, bilateral hip condition, PTSD, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board has granted service connection for residuals of superior labral tear in the right shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hydronephrosis and PTSD are being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for OSA, including as secondary to PTSD, due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain medical comment regarding the posited attribution of the Veteran's OSA to his obesity caused by his PTSD and/or medication.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to February 16, 2021 and denied for a higher rating. Since February 16, 2021, the Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hand disability, right knee and hip disabilities, back disability, and neurological disabilities of the lower extremities. The Veteran's left buttock shrapnel wound claim is denied as there is no current disability. His PTSD remains at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU due to insufficient reasons provided in previous decisions, including not adequately addressing symptoms that could warrant a higher rating. The Veteran is also found unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating as of August 23, 2019. The gastrointestinal disability (claimed as acid reflux) remains under review.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the lack of a schedular rating for PTSD and the need for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-V.,Claims for right and left knee disabilities are also denied, as the evidence does not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development of his claimed in-service stressors and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD and fibromyalgia is granted effective February 23, 2011. The claims for increased evaluations of hemorrhoids, fibromyalgia, and PTSD are withdrawn. Service connection for vertigo, arthralgia, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bruxism, IBS, GERD, and rectal sphincter impairment is remanded.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The appeal of PTSD evaluation is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the August 2015 rating decision, which correctly applied the then-existing regulations.