PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and/or PTSD) due to outstanding private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is rated as 60 percent disabling from April 11, 2013. The Board has denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date.,The Veteran's PTSD is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records and need for an updated examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS is granted a 70% rating from November 1, 2011. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, chronic anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for low back disability is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's service is not a bar to VA benefits for the period from September 23, 2003, through July 18, 2007. However, the character of his service from July 19, 2007, through June 12, 2009, is under other than honorable conditions due to misconduct involving drug use. The Board has ordered a remand for further action regarding this period.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. The claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches are also remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with the psychiatric claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 7, 2021 and dismissed the appeal from that date forward due to a concurrent grant of SMC based on housebound criteria. The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, anxiety, schizoaffective disorder, and PTSD, which the Veteran claims is secondary to military sexual trauma. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied. For the period prior to January 17, 2009, the criteria for TDIU on a schedular basis have also not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service experiences and his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private clinical documentation related to his treatment. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination regarding the appellant's mental health at the time of his in-service misconduct. The examiner did not address whether the appellant was insane at the time he went AWOL.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and hypertension due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported in-service stressor.,Further research into the suicide of a sailor aboard U.S.S. Hunley (AS-31) in July 1990 will be conducted, and a new VA examination will be scheduled to assess any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further development regarding peripheral neuropathy and chemical burns, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied due to his failure to attend a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as there is insufficient information regarding his employment history and earnings.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for various issues, including psychiatric disorders, has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The issues of heart disorder, sleep apnea, varicose veins, right knee disability, and peripheral neuropathies have been dismissed as withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied the claim of service connection for a jaw disorder. The Veteran's appeal regarding the jaw disorder was withdrawn prior to decision.