PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the rating period from December 1, 2010 to January 24, 2019. As such, he was granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted effective March 24, 2009. He was previously rated at 50% from August 30, 2011, through October 2, 2017, and now receives a 100% rating since October 3, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MST, has been reopened. The Board is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 14, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental health condition and sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need for further examination. The examiner will determine if these conditions were incurred in or due to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU were denied due to his failure to appear for the scheduled VA examination. The Board found that good cause was not shown, as the Veteran did not provide any reason for missing the appointment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical assessments and a need for a medical opinion regarding whether D.C. was insane at the time of his criminal offense, which could affect his eligibility for VA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and PTSD, as well as sleep apnea. The Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service involvement with recovering body parts from a commercial airline crash, while his depression is linked to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied, while the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted from June 21, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with depression has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to February 5, 2020 due to his service-connected PTSD. From February 5, 2020, the claim of entitlement to a TDIU is dismissed as moot because he received a 100% disability rating for lung cancer and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The AOJ will review this evidence before making a decision.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 13, 1993 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's informal claim in December 1993 raised a potential claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and North Port Emergency Care Center on October 14, 2016 is granted. The treatment was provided in a hospital emergency department due to severe lower extremity pain and swelling related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its decision and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's alcohol use disorder and service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing an addendum opinion regarding the onset of his psychiatric disorders, and considering all relevant evidence since the August 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD separate from his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer is denied. The claims for increased PTSD and TDIU are remanded.