PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective April 15, 2013. The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD and remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and pedophilia, finding that there was no evidence of a personal assault in service or any other basis to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with previous requests for additional development and an opinion regarding the etiology of a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from February 11, 2013. The Board found that TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted from February 11, 2013, but no earlier. The issue of a higher initial disability evaluation for lumbar strain resulting in multi-level spondylosis/lumbar disc disease prior to November 25, 2019, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Veteran's lung adenocarcinoma is considered a residual of an in-service inhalation injury, meeting the criteria for a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's right fifth finger scar, claimed as incurred in service, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between the injury and service.,PTSD is rated at 30 percent, with no higher rating granted based on current symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher rating.,Tinea cruris does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it affects less than 5% of his total body area.

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to his in-service stressor, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but not higher, effective July 11, 2018.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, MDD, insomnia disorder and alcohol use disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity for the period from November 1, 2018 to May 28, 2019. The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent due to lack of total occupational or social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD prior to June 25, 2020 has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU is denied as it is considered a freestanding claim following final decisions.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to PTSD, IBS, lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar facet hypertrophy, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle fracture with residual loose body, tendonitis and left foot talar osteochondral defect, right ankle osteochondral defect status post-surgical repair with history of strain. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim and his claims for service connection for blood clots of the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted. The housebound claim is dismissed due to the grant of SMC by reason of regular need for aid and attendance. The claims for increased evaluations for coronary artery disease and left knee arthroscopy are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a headache disorder due to lack of current diagnoses or medical nexus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of December 26, 2007. The Board granted effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits based on this determination.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension claim is denied because he did not serve in a period of war and thus does not meet the eligibility requirements for pension benefits.

The appeal for service connection of PTSD, MDD, and GAD was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to MST, but the claims for hepatitis C, OSA, and hypertension are remanded for further development.