PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection for a TBI and its residuals, as well as his increased rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder to 70%, are granted. However, his request for a total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) rating remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a service-connectable psychiatric disability and that any diagnosed conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected conditions contributed or aggravated the Veteran's death. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to coronary atherosclerosis.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to January 27, 2015. An initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The VA examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether each diagnosed condition is related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal period.

The Veteran was granted TDIU prior to February 18, 2011, due to his service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected, and the issue of his bilateral eye disability (claimed as astigmatism) is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted. The claim for arthritis of the right hand is being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 17, 2019. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to December 13, 2013, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with alcohol abuse. The earliest possible effective date was correctly assigned as the day the claim was received by VA on December 13, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is denied, and the issue of rating PTSD in excess of 70 percent is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those related to PTSD, MDD, sleep apnea, left shoulder strain, recurrent headaches, hypertension, DDD of the lumbar spine, cervical DDD, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and a heart condition.

The appeal is granted as the character of the Veteran's discharge is not a bar to VA benefits for claims based on the period of service from November 12, 2002, to November 11, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since January 5, 2022. The rating was increased from 50 percent prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since March 30, 2015. The Board found the symptoms did not meet or approximate total occupational and social impairment.,Left hip femoro-acetabular osteoarthritis based on limited extension has been rated at 10 percent since March 30, 2015. The Veteran's flexion is limited to at most 100 degrees with no significant additional loss of motion due to pain or flare-ups.

The Veteran's OSA requires the use of a CPAP machine, but does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to lack of respiratory failure or tracheostomy.,PTSD symptoms cause reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating. The Veteran has maintained relationships and employment despite PTSD.,Lumbar spine disability does not meet criteria for higher than 20% rating based on forward flexion limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, bronchitis, PTSD, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link between these conditions and military service. The claims are also remanded for additional medical opinions regarding potential links to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements about her service experiences.