PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD were dismissed due to his death.

The Board dismissed the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD as the June 2020 decision is final and cannot be the subject of additional adjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to January 13, 2020, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for this period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a concussion, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. The VA will attempt to schedule examinations and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating from December 16, 2010. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD but granted an increased rating for Major Depressive Disorder, both effective August 18, 2009. The Veteran appealed the decision to the Court, which found that the August 2009 correspondence should be considered a notice of disagreement and remanded the case.

The Veteran's MDD with PTSD is rated at 70 percent from March 15, 2018. The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 15, 2018 for the increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorders, finding that he does not have these conditions. The appeal was based on a direct relationship to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD prior to December 24, 2019 and from that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating than 30 percent or 70 percent respectively.

The Board has found that the VA examination and medical opinions are inadequate, as they improperly relied on lack of in-service evidence and failed to adequately address the Veteran's assertions regarding onset and continuity of symptoms. The case is therefore remanded for further development.

The Board's decision to deny service connection for any acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, was vacated due to a denial of due process because the decision was issued before the expiration of the Veteran's extension request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, PTSD, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and pain and swelling of the left leg have been dismissed as moot due to prior grants of service connection.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral arms, hands, legs, and feet. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted under the PACT Act, and his degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine rating is restored.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity is granted an increased rating, but tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular evaluation.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with the duty to assist and an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for its finding regarding the Veteran's lay statements. The Veteran is to be provided with additional VA treatment records and a new addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in March 2014. After relevant STRs and military records were added to the file on January 14, 2015, his claim was reconsidered and he was granted service connection for PTSD with a 50% rating effective February 13, 2018. The Board found that the earlier effective date of June 24, 2011 is warranted as the March 2014 decision had not become final.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The original opinions were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service experiences.