PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 21, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's initial period of service is not a bar to VA benefits. However, the character of his discharge for the second period of service from October 29, 2012, through October 21, 2014, remains under review due to potential insanity at the time of misconduct.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and notification of TDIU criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his hypertension, which may have contributed to his death. The case will be further developed and a new medical opinion is required.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking the condition to in-service stressors.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral shoulder disability due to lack of in-service injury or disease and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, and vertigo are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran also meets the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU and his claim is granted subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to August 29, 2016 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded. The issues are intertwined with his PTSD claim and need further review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol abuse disorder, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective November 25, 2008. The Veteran's cervical spondylosis with degenerative disk disease is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for this issue. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety is granted.

The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to September 5, 2017 for the addition of his daughter S. as a dependent child was denied because sufficient proof of her relationship to him as his biological child was not provided until then.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his psychiatric disorders began during service or are related to in-service events.

The Board has denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and TBI have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted from October 12, 2017, to December 17, 2020, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 2, 2014, due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective August 31, 2012. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for chronic adductor strain of the left thigh with fracture of left pubic ramus is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new examination as the previous one is outdated. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and thyroid cancer residuals have been dismissed due to her death.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate for the period from December 22, 2014 to October 21, 2019 due to service-connected PTSD. Chapter 35 DEA benefits are also granted during this time.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right leg arthritis, left-hand disability, left-leg disability, and mental health disability (PTSD) due to errors in obtaining VA records and a lack of consideration of lay evidence regarding PTSD.