PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 50% rating before December 16, 2014. The issue of service connection for TBI and the claim for TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating increase for PTSD with sleep problems and TBI to include cognitive disorder, as well as his TDIU claim due to lack of medical records from his incarceration period. The claims are now pending for further evaluation.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD as due to military sexual trauma (MST), is remanded. The AOJ must clarify the conclusions reached in the May 2020 Personal Trauma Worksheet and provide a new VA medical opinion considering the appellant's credible testimony regarding changes in behavior from before and after bootcamp.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression is reopened. The claim of service connection for vertigo is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the current symptom to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA PTSD examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a left hip disorder, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a back disorder and nerve damage of the legs (sciatica) are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD prior to June 11, 2014 is denied. The matter of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 1997 rating action that denied service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 17, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability prior to this date.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder has been granted. However, the compensable rating for hemorrhoids remains denied.

The Veteran's service records show a significant change in her performance and behavior, supporting her claim of military sexual trauma leading to PTSD. The Board found the evidence sufficient to grant service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to MST is granted, with an initial evaluation of 50 percent for migraine headaches. The effective date for the award of service connection for a migraine headache disability is denied as there was no prior correspondence or intent to file a claim before June 30, 2017. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death, as Veterans' claims do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to September 26, 2016 resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is capable of performing physical labor and has the potential for employment with minimal interaction and flexible schedules.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has worsened, and a new examination is required to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The appeals for service connection on various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the appeal for higher ratings for PTSD and asthma due to additional evidence added to the claims file. The TDIU claim is also being considered as it is intertwined with the initial rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted a 10 percent rating prior to April 1, 2017. The PTSD is granted a 30 percent rating as of April 1, 2017.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, but has remanded the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his in-service symptoms and exposure. The issue of aggravation of PTSD by sleep apnea remains unresolved.