PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's dental disability and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to her service-connected disabilities, including a gynecological disorder and various musculoskeletal conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed for these claims due to the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the gynecological disorder and the current severity of the psychiatric disorder, headache disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating, but no greater. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim for a higher rating than 40 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because the in-service stressors were not corroborated by credible supporting evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (in addition to PTSD) was also denied as there is no evidence that such a condition manifested during service or is otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was able to work before his disability onset in 1997. The Board denied the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the back, and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened, with the latter being recharacterized as a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.,Service connection is remanded for various conditions including hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, PTSD), sleep apnea, prostate disability due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, a skin condition of the stomach, head disability (headaches), coronary artery disease, strokes, enlarged kidney due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, both hands locking up, gout of the right and left foot, knot under the right cheek, sea sickness, and sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including investigating the Veteran's service in Korea and Kuwait, obtaining his complete military personnel records, and obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records. The claims for right hand frostbite, bilateral hand disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and/or PTSD), left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, bilateral pes planus, low back disability, and headache disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability as secondary to right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, an effective date prior to March 31, 2017, for the grant of TDIU, and for permanent TDIU are all dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher evaluation for his right ear hearing loss disability, an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD beginning August 13, 2015, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's PTSD is due to military sexual trauma (MST) and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and a left arm disability, as well as an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher evaluation, but their TDIU and DEA are granted with an effective date of March 27, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from May 1, 2014 to June 13, 2016. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's mental health disorders, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression, are related to his active duty service due to in-service hazing and assault. Service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a determination on the character of discharge from service and readjudication of all issues on appeal. The decision is not binding on other VA policies or interpretations.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is rated at 70 percent, which approximates the criteria for occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, thinking, and mood.