PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD with mood disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to December 17, 2010 and he was granted a TDIU prior to March 16, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran's PTSD aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and awarded service connection for neck and low back conditions on a direct basis.,Obstructive sleep apnea is now considered service-connected, with the primary cause being linked to PTSD. Neck and low back disabilities are also recognized as having originated during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and tinnitus due to a lack of nexus opinions addressing his claimed stressors in service. The Veteran is entitled to the combat presumption.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine current disability levels.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's PTSD and hearing loss, including initial evaluations and service connection for migraines. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from June 21, 2007 to July 31, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for a TDIU from July 31, 2018 is dismissed as moot because he is now in receipt of a 100% combined disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and insufficient medical opinion linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran's PTSD, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at the maximum allowed under their respective diagnostic codes. The claim for a TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran has already received a 100% schedular evaluation for his service-connected disabilities. SMC based on housebound status is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner did not adequately address causation and aggravation, nor did they consider a favorable medical article submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was not reasonably raised by the record prior to November 4, 2013. The effective date of TDIU is set at November 4, 2013.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 cannot be granted before November 4, 2013, as the Veteran did not have a total rating for service-connected compensation prior to that date.

The Board denied a higher rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating due to lack of evidence of severe impairment such as persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, or inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of OSA as secondary to PTSD due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new medical opinion addressing whether OSA was caused by or aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his TDIU, but the Board finds that he does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU prior to November 2, 2022. The matter is remanded to consider whether extra-schedular TDIU should be granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) due to a failure to verify all periods of active, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were productive of total occupational and social impairment effective August 11, 2014. A 100 percent disability rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to direct evidence linking it to his military service.,Service connection for an eye injury is denied because there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.,A 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse is granted, reflecting the severity of symptoms and impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased evaluation of PTSD with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anger is denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for COPD pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and broadened the claim on appeal. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, insomnia, depression, and anxiety.