PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of back condition, major depressive disorder, and PTSD need further development due to lack of VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from July 23, 2013 to the present. The Board has remanded for further development regarding his PTSD rating and effective date claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of the Veteran's right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, PTSD with depressive reaction, and TDIU due to procedural issues. The RO is required to obtain additional medical records from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, arrange VA telehealth examinations for the Veteran's disabilities, and provide a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a more complete medical opinion regarding whether any current gastrointestinal disability is related to the Veteran's military service, specifically addressing causation and aggravation by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from a VA facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was granted, but his claim for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has PTSD due to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot make such a determination in the first instance due to their service-connected psychiatric disability. The case will be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, depression/anxiety (claimed as PTSD), lower back condition, headaches/migraines, and sleep apnea. The reasons for remanding these cases include needing a new VA examination due to the passage of time since the last examination, verifying stressor events in service, and considering whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bullet wound with myofascial pain, and gunshot wound scar, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 25, 2019. As his combined disability rating was at least 60 percent, he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded for further evaluation. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess his PTSD, and determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depression due to a lack of VA examinations, and to determine if the Veteran was insane at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is linked to an in-service personal assault and there is credible supporting evidence of the stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and her asthma is rated at 30%. The Board has granted a TDIU, but denied an increased rating for PTSD and asthma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, memory problems, and sleep disorder. The issues are related to presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been provided to substantiate his claims. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosed disability or persistent symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected conditions, specifically diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including COPD, Graves' disease, stomach problems, chronic pain syndrome, coronary atherosclerosis with stent, hypertension, reflux, and psychiatric disabilities have been granted. The issues of service connection for otitis externa, otitis media, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and higher disability rating for his conditions were denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to support granting any of these claims.