PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD are found to be the cause of his fatigue, which is granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active service. The claim is denied in part as TDIU remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressor and thus no etiological link between his current disabilities and military service.

The claim for service connection for PTSD, related to a claimed sexual assault during military service, has been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence is sufficient to reopen the claim but remands for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is denied as he did not have a diagnosed disability prior to or at the time of his death.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension (HTN) and stroke, claimed as secondary to HTN, is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether these conditions are related to herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD is also remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether this condition is related to HTN or other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to new evidence received that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for PTSD, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Parkinson's Disease, and Degenerative Arthritis of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, had its onset in military service. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including statements from the Veteran about in-service stressors and treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD related to Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina.

The rating reduction for PTSD from 70% to 30% was improper, and the 70% rating is restored. The increased rating for diabetic nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II is denied. TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, allowing for the award of special monthly compensation based at the housebound rate from November 19, 2010. The Veteran was previously awarded a TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities, but could have been granted a TDIU solely due to PTSD as of November 19, 2010. As of this date, he had additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The TDIU claim is remanded.,PTSD was denied initially but reopened with new evidence; the current evidence supports service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.,Bilateral hearing loss was found to be incurred in service based on acoustic trauma exposure during active duty. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as it pertains to his ability to work due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 70 percent, effective March 2010. The rating for the right foot/ankle disability remains at 30 percent. A separate 20 percent rating was granted for limitation of motion of the right ankle from September 8, 2020 to December 15, 2020.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to January 27, 2022 is being remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to comply with the Board's previous remand instructions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, residuals of right frozen foot, and dementia. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions, including regarding SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, but no higher. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as the Veteran has not yet submitted a TDIU claim form.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right foot disability, a right ankle disability, and chest pain have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms of these conditions are believed to be related to an in-service head injury.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches and PTSD has been granted. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded.