PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), joint disabilities, gout, sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to an in-service stressor involving a helicopter crash off the coast of Korea.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted in the December 2021 rating decision, resolving his appeal. The appellant is eligible for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since April 28, 2015. The rating will remain at this level until October 12, 2018 when it was increased to 100 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the examination report and etiology opinions, particularly regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and the verification of claimed stressors. The Veteran will need further examinations and additional information from him.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, are found to be related to his military service, specifically the MST he experienced during service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a stroke due to his service-connected PTSD and the medications taken therefor, finding that the evidence did not support a secondary service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to lack of supporting evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his right foot/ankle disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), which are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain missing VA treatment records. The issues of PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy are all remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, which is granted as special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment from April 1, 2014, the last date of his full-time employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, a cervical spine disability, and left and right shoulder disabilities due to potential errors in fact or law.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD was granted. On de novo review, the Board found that the Veteran has a psychiatric disability related to his military service and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, depression, and explosive disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected conditions contributed to or aggravated his ulcerative colitis, leading to his death. The DIC claim will also be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and depression, is granted service connection. The thrombosis, poor circulation, and edema are denied due to lack of a causal relationship with service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression symptoms have been rated at 50 percent since April 28, 2017. The Board finds the evidence is approximately balanced as to whether her symptoms more closely approximate a 50 percent rating during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment from September 5, 2012, to December 19, 2016. The increased disability rating of 70 percent is granted for this period.