PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, atopic dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and posttraumatic stress disorder are all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for dry eyes as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The claim for service connection for lumbar spine condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,The Veteran's PTSD rating is remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his disability.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy rating is remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his disability.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy rating is remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective February 16, 2010. He has also been granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of PTSD, neck disorder, and TDIU. Specifically, the AOJ must obtain SSA records, private treatment records from McLaren Hospital in Bay City, Michigan, and VA medical records. Additionally, a VA examination should be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of any neck disorder that may be present. The AOJ is also tasked with considering whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression, is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lung condition and eosinophilia are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claim for PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from a psychiatric disorder related to his service in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and left ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling from August 22, 2016. He also received SMC at the housebound rate and DEA benefits effective from August 22, 2016.,The issue of TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied. Service connection has been granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, but the claim is still pending as it was not fully addressed in the January 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he passed away during their pendency.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since July 6, 2021. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from end stage dementia, allowing the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is related to service-connected PTSD. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the September 2017 VA examination and the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD or another mental disorder. The examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether any diagnosed disability is at least as likely as not caused by service, including verified stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted a 70 percent rating from September 13, 2010 to March 16, 2020. Service connection for bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 29, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective November 8, 2011. The decision grants service connection for PTSD and TDIU based on PTSD alone, but denies earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms may have worsened since the last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition. The issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to clarify the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's suicidal ideation symptom reported in the February 2020 private opinion. The TDIU issue is also deferred until the PTSD rating issue is adjudicated.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment.