PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, TDIU, and DEA benefits. The appeal was dismissed for an earlier effective date claim regarding SMC benefits prior to February 28, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress and psychotic features was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic stage 4 kidney disease, heart disease, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities were all denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted as of March 12, 2018. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension was March 11, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The VA will obtain private treatment records from St. Joseph's Hospital and provide a new medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has denied eligibility for attorney fees in relation to the service connection of right elbow ulnar neuropathy, but granted eligibility for attorney fees related to the increased disability rating for PTSD with bipolar disorder and anxious distress.

The Board granted a TDIU rating from July 9, 2016 to December 22, 2017 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, IHD, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no diagnosis of PTSD and his symptoms were attributable to an already service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, as it only showed occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The case was remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board has decided that the VA did not provide a necessary examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD. The case is being sent back for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is set at January 14, 2014.

PTSD and migraine headaches have been granted service connection, with PTSD receiving a 70% rating.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is dismissed because he is already receiving a 100% rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, effective date prior to September 30, 2013 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with TBI, and compensable ratings for right and left lower extremity internal saphenous nerve reflex sympathetic dystrophy were denied. The claim for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left sciatic nerve reflex sympathetic dystrophy prior to January 25, 2018 and from that date was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to November 12, 2019 and TDIU before that date are both remanded due to the need for additional records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and SMC.,The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for PTSD. The appeal is remanded for further action on the prostate disability claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 23, 2022 is remanded due to unclear information regarding his employment status.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral athlete's foot, and a left foot plantar wart due to outstanding evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's back condition, LLE and RLE radiculopathy, and brain aneurysm have been granted service connection. The effective dates for these conditions are February 7, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and headaches due to a lack of evidence in her VA treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any relevant medical providers.