PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues of service connection for upper respiratory condition, pulmonary condition, gastrointestinal condition, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, GAD, unspecified depressive disorder) and tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to October 12, 2011. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is less than 100 percent, and he does not meet the minimum percentage standards required in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted, and the initial compensable rating for PTSD prior to June 29, 2021, and higher than 30 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence linking his homicide to any service-connected condition or contributing substantially to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since June 10, 2013 and a TDIU is granted from that date. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board has now granted a 70 percent rating due to ongoing suicidal ideation, which causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral foot pain due to inadequate examination findings, conflicting descriptions of in-service surgery, and need for additional medical records. The Veteran is currently unrepresented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for right hand and wrist ulnar nerve damage is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and GERD.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and eczema of the left middle finger are all granted service connection. The Board found that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is reopened, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD is remanded. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for new evidence and examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets the criteria for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right hand disorder, and left hand disorder are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 6, 2006 for the award of service connection for PTSD has been granted. The rating claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include insomnia and PTSD. However, the case is remanded as a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depression, is granted as service connected due to an in-service assault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and possible SSA records. The issues of increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are all being addressed.