PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder. The examiner is asked to address the Veteran's contention that his psychiatric symptoms began during service and consider his claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and a TDIU has been remanded due to inconsistencies between VA examinations and a private psychologist's evaluation. A new examination is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is remanded due to the need for a clarification on whether his depressive disorder was superimposed upon his personality disorder during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, as well as in-service mental health treatment records. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, secondary to COPD, remains on appeal.

The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for PTSD from March 31, 2015 to December 19, 2017, finding that the Veteran's condition resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroparesis, as secondary to PTSD, needs further examination and opinion. The current VA examination did not consider whether any treatments or medications for his service-connected PTSD could have caused or aggravated his gastroparesis.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a December 2020 VA medical opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to service-connected lumbosacral sprain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), radiculopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The remand requires the Veteran's claim be reviewed by a qualified VA examiner who has expertise in sleep-related disorders to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether PTSD causes or aggravates OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral Achilles' tendonitis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. An effective date of October 13, 2011, is granted for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective March 24, 2017. SMC at the housebound rate was granted from May 1, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD is granted, with an effective date of September 28, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU but was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-V.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to an improper form used in filing a notice of disagreement.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a higher rating of 50% for posttraumatic stress disorder prior to April 9, 2012. The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claimed stressor and the need for a new examination to determine if he meets criteria for PTSD or other psychiatric disorders related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU rating for PTSD is granted, and his PTSD rating is also granted at 70 percent. The left forearm disability is rated at 50 percent due to ankylosis of the elbow joint, and the left elbow arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the failure to comply with a prior remand order and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The TDIU issue is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has also remanded cases involving service connection, TDIU, and special monthly compensation.