PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board denied the appeal, finding that the appellant's discharge was not due to insanity and thus did not meet the criteria for a veteran status or VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD under DSM-5 but met the criteria for unspecified depressive disorder and stimulant (cocaine) use disorder in sustained remission. Service connection was also denied for right knee osteoarthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease, and status post total hip arthroplasty.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted. The issue of service connection for gastrointestinal disorders associated with in-service gun-shot injury, claimed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board found no current diagnosis of ulcers and denied the claim for service connection.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed TBI, and the Veteran's STRs do not support such an event. The Board denied the claim for service connection for TBI.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating for the entire period on appeal. The matter of his entitlement to TDIU is rendered moot by the award of a total (100%) schedular disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support the contention that COPD was caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for decreased sensation, periorbital area - fifth cranial nerve/trigeminal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his deviated septum is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right forearm condition (also claimed as numbness and painful scar) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for opioid use disorder (to include residuals of such disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from July 27, 2009, to July 9, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 6, 2021 as his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and/or MDD, is being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 14, 2008. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA mental health treatment records and a copy of the Veteran's hospitalization records from Novant Matthews Hospital. The Veteran was hospitalized in September 2014 for an attempted suicide.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and new evidence, requiring a VA examination and reconsideration of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, Adjustment Disorder (secondary to PTSD), and an unspecified Anxiety Disorder has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. The appeal is allowed in part.

The appeal pertaining to the issues of service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee condition, arthritis and tendonitis, an earlier effective date for herpes simplex, type II, and whether there was CUE in a March 2004 rating decision that denied service connection for limited use of the arms has been dismissed as moot.,The appeal pertaining to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 28, 2019 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with alcohol-induced dementia. The Veteran's claim was continuously pursued without any lapse in time over a year.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and did not grant the Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was granted.,Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) and Dependent Education Assistance (DEA) were also granted from September 17, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he did not meet the statutory requirements for payment of SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities and TDIU.