PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting diagnoses and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and colon cancer due to herbicide exposure. The claims were not reopened as new evidence was not provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, an eye disability, hearing loss in the right ear, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The remand requires additional development to address the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since February 2, 2022. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was not granted a disability rating in excess of 30 percent before October 9, 2020 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran's headache disability did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to service.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating and TDIU due to his psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The decision is based on inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements, the need for a new VA examination, and the interrelated nature of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and MDD is being remanded due to the lack of recent medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action regarding the rating of PTSD and TDIU.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating. The combined impact of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, OSA, IHD, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 10, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound, and eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD due to MST. The issues of lumbosacral strain and service connection are no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, standing alone, warrants TDIU since October 1, 2009. The Board finds the functional impairment resulting from PTSD did not prevent the Veteran from performing the physical and mental acts required by a substantially gainful occupation until approximately October 1, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD because there was no credible supporting evidence to verify the claimed in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's anxiety, major depression, and PTSD are found to be related to his service, with the Board resolving doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of PTSD and service connection for low back degenerative disc disease was denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right lower extremity disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorders, eye disability, shoulder disabilities, renal cyst, emphysema, fibromyalgia, stomach hernia disability, skin disability with impairment of the feet, and migraine headache disability. The reasons were lack of evidence or failure to report for VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination, which did not fully assess his PTSD symptoms and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and alcohol abuse in sustained full remission is granted at a 70% rating, effective from April 29, 2011. He also received TDIU and SMC based on housebound status.