PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a separate and distinct psychiatric disorder, likely bipolar disorder, which is not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The effective date for service connection for PTSD is set at June 13, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for GERD and PTSD, as well as TDIU prior to May 18, 2016. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional evidence or identify relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia, is granted as service connected. OSA and bilateral PLMS are also granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal of service connection for a prostate disability and has remanded several other issues related to various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, upper extremity, lower extremity neuropathies, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with the RO.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the relationship between his current acquired psychiatric disorders and service. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and tinnitus due to inconsistencies in previous examinations and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety and depression and insomnia, is granted as service-connected. For the period prior to July 20, 2018, his right knee patellofemoral arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his mental health conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU due to incomplete development, including a cancelled VA examination. The Veteran is also asked to clarify his intention regarding the TDIU issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU based solely on PTSD, finding that his service-connected PTSD did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 25, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence for the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, and it is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's shell fragment wounds, to include a superficial scar on the right distal leg and right thumb, were not manifested by any disabling effect(s) prior to January 26, 2022 that would not be considered in a rating provided under DCs 7800-7804. A separate 10 percent disability rating for shell fragment wounds, to include a superficial scar on the right distal leg and right thumb, is granted prior to January 26, 2022.,The Veteran's PTSD was increased from 50% to 70% effective December 23, 2021. The issue remains on appeal.

An effective date of December 26, 2017 has been granted for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran is now rated at a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD since June 7, 2022.,The initial disability rating for CAD remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective January 11, 2019. The claim for TDIU was granted on the same date.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder, as well as an increased evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant a 70% or 100% disability rating.