PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran contends that his OSA began during active service or was caused by his PTSD. A new opinion is needed regarding whether OSA is related directly to active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU effective February 1, 2014, finding that her service-connected disabilities have prevented her from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since then.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records since February 2016. The Veteran needs to provide any relevant documents from that period and clarify if he has had ongoing VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The issues are whether PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include as secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome) are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as his service-connected disabilities make him unemployable.,Claims for earlier effective dates for left lower extremity radiculopathy and hypertension are denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric condition was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to October 9, 2015 did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent. From October 9, 2015 to November 18, 2018, his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and for migraine headaches due to in-service sexual harassment. The VA will obtain all relevant treatment records and provide a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of her diagnosed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported military sexual trauma and the cause of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current diagnoses and whether they conform to DSM criteria, as well as the need for an addendum opinion on the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current mental health diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea and the issue of increasing PTSD disability rating. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service, specifically his cervical spine surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the issue of an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The right elbow scar has been granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. Other issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's 80% rating for narcolepsy is restored, effective June 1, 2016. The claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted with an effective date of September 3, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for additional vocational rehabilitation and training to achieve his goal of becoming an attorney due to the severity of his service-connected PTSD, which renders it not feasible.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder is granted, effective May 31, 2017.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD, dysthymia, panic disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the same conditions is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50 percent rating prior to December 1, 2016 and denied for ratings in excess of 30 percent. TDIU is granted prior to December 1, 2016.