PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete research on a claimed stressor and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of records, including service treatment and personnel records. The character of discharge issue is intertwined with the claims for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition at entry into service. The Board also found insufficient credible in-service stressor reports to support the diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD, sleep apnea, and their combined effect on his employability. The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, and he has basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is moot as the Veteran already meets the criteria for a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder has rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the addition of new service-connected disabilities, and a request for VA Form 21-8940 was not received. The case will be reconsidered with this information.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to July 22, 2020 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD symptoms. For the period from September 5, 2013 to July 21, 2020, the Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD was granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, right ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability have been granted.,The VA has provided compensation for these disabilities resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected PTSD contributed to it. The appellant needs to provide records from Raleigh General Hospital, and a VA examiner will need to review these records and provide an opinion on the matter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased PTSD, TDIU, and SMC due to potential relevance of Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's left vocal cord disability was granted a rating of 60 percent from April 12, 2018 to March 21, 2021.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to December 30, 2020 was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition due to Agent Orange exposure and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as they are related to his in-service head injury. Additional development is needed.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for his PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his PTSD, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD or if it was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's PTSD did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.,The claim for a breathing condition was denied because there is no current disability. The Board found that medical providers have not diagnosed the Veteran with this condition, and his complaints were associated with PTSD.,The claim for sleep apnea was denied because there is no current disability. The Board found that medical providers have not diagnosed the Veteran with this condition, and his complaints were associated with PTSD.,Service connection for acid reflux or GERD was denied because there is no current disability. The Board found that medical providers have not diagnosed the Veteran with this condition, and his complaints were associated with PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is due to his active military service. The Board has granted the claim for service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and due to being housebound was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC at either the aid and attendance or housebound rate, as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent disabling, is not permanently bedridden or housebound by reason of his service-connected disabilities, and does not require regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.