PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for residuals of frostbite of the feet was denied, but reopened due to new and material evidence. The gastrointestinal disability including constipation with hemorrhoids is now granted.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) were both reopened and granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and adjudication of his claims, including the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his employment status over the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disability, characterized as bilateral compartment syndrome status post fasciotomy.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the Veteran not attending a scheduled VA examination and lack of VA treatment records from Maine. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms and his occupational functioning. The issues of PTSD rating and TDIU are being addressed together due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a left chest injury, have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since February 1, 2013. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on this finding.

The appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The issues of increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for PTSD was received on December 19, 2017. The Board denied the claim in January 2015 and found that there is no presumption of 'secondary exposure' based on being near or handling equipment once used in Vietnam.,Evidence submitted since the January 2015 decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's contentions regarding his alleged exposure to Agent Orange are identical to those previously addressed by the Board.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and PTSD for treatment purposes only.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left knee osteoarthritis did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee post traumatic arthritis and lateral meniscus tear with patellofemoral syndrome is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to August 5, 2019 is denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating prior to March 19, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied because the increase in disability did not occur within one year of receipt of his most recent increased rating claim.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is granted as he stopped working due to PTSD on January 22, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and left ear hearing loss were evaluated, but the disability ratings for both conditions remained at 30 percent. The appeal was denied as there is no indication of service connection issues related to exposure or other theories.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be secondary to his obstructive sleep apnea. His PTSD symptoms are rated at a 50% disability rating prior to September 19, 2018, and a 70% rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension have been denied. The effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains December 22, 2014.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives, and additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims. This includes verifying Southwest Asia service during the Persian Gulf War and providing in-person examinations for all claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper notification for a VA examination, and the need to verify the Veteran's current address. The Veteran is requested to be scheduled for an appropriate VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and unverified stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered with a new examination and opinion.