PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease requires regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is unable to perform daily activities safely due to his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

All issues related to knee arthritis and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development. The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. Service connection for diabetic nephropathy is granted with an effective date of December 6, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were found to be consistent with occupational and social impairment, warranting a 30 percent rating for the period from January 15, 2014 to February 14, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and headaches due to lack of timely notice of disagreement.

The Board has decided that a higher rating for PTSD is needed and has ordered further examination to determine the current severity of the condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from September 2, 2009 to March 25, 2012 and since June 1, 2012. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of PTSD prior to March 12, 2019 has been withdrawn by the Veteran. As a result, this issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified insomnia disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the VA's duty to assist and an inadequate statement of reasons and bases. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DM, PN in both lower and upper extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral blindness and PTSD, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress, bathe, feed himself, or protect himself from hazards. The Board found that the Veteran required aid and attendance throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU, rendering moot his claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and IHD.,The Veteran's service-connected hypertension has been granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The right shoulder trauma claim is granted, while other psychiatric, back, knee, and neck disorders remain pending.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain with trace retrolisthesis at L3, L4, and L4-5 and segmental instability (low back disability) as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for PTSD and Sleep Apnea require further development due to incomplete verification of stressor events, and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any new diagnoses.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a disability meeting VA criteria. The appeal regarding PTSD is remanded as there are insufficient records to corroborate the claimed in-service assault and stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since June 12, 2020. He is granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and secondary service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that her in-service stressor events were not valid for VA purposes and thus could not be etiologically related to those events. The Veteran was diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress, during the appeal period.