PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for his PTSD, but the claim for increased rating prior to January 22, 2020, is still denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain treatment records, conduct examinations, and provide opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected conditions and their relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals concerning PTSD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. As a result, the cases are dismissed.

Service connection granted for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Service connection denied for sleep apnea.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the primary cause of his peripheral neuropathies, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service records do not provide sufficient evidence to support his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating from May 26, 2014 to July 22, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and mood disorder) due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran's accounts and corroborating lay statements suggest that he experienced a motor vehicle accident in service which may have caused his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including updated VA treatment records, a VA psychiatric examination for PTSD, an eye examination for right eye blindness, a VA hypertension examination, and another knee examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, other than PTSD, dry eye syndrome secondary to diabetes mellitus, and major depressive and anxiety disorders are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded an increased rating for his psychiatric conditions. However, the ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remain at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,New evidence has been submitted supporting the Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic myeloid leukemia. The claim is reopened, but further development is needed as the Veteran's PTSD alone does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, and colon disability are denied. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination. The SMC claim is also remanded.

The rating reduction from 70% to 50% for PTSD with depression effective January 1, 2019 was improper. The Veteran's PTSD has not improved enough to warrant a lower rating. The case is remanded for further examination and readjudication.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD and depression, is granted service connection because it is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying in-service stressors and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including his claimed neurocognitive disorder and PTSD related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in medical records and the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and whether it is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between his PTSD, depression, and tinnitus and his in-service events. The VA will provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand includes obtaining outstanding private treatment records from Hospital Psiqui�trico Metropolitano in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, and VA medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety are related to his service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The rating reduction for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD from 100% to 70% was improper, and the 100% rating is restored.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected bronchial asthma.