PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's current diagnoses include borderline personality disorder, which may also include an adjustment disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and schizoaffective disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis related to his military service. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral foot or ankle disability claim was remanded due to additional development being required.

An increased disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD was granted from March 13, 2014 to November 28, 2018.,A total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service connected disability (TDIU) was also granted during the same period.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether PTSD is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral dry eye syndrome due to additional relevant VA treatment records and examination reports being associated with the case file after the issuance of a March 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, calcaneal fracture of the right foot, and anterior cruciate ligament tear of the right knee. The decision is based on obesity being an intermediate step in causing the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders, including unspecified depressive disorder, is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's dental caries claim is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, while his PTSD rating appeal requires obtaining authorization for private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial disability rating for psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed due to new evidence from the National Personnel Records Center.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the July 2018 VA audiological examination. The increased PTSD rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he satisfies both economic and non-economic components of a TDIU from November 9, 2017. However, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 9, 2017 is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) and higher rate of SMC based on the need for a higher level of aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) is denied due to lack of eligibility for compensation at the maximum rate or intermediate rate authorized.

An effective date of January 1, 2022, is granted for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with depression.,An effective date of September 17, 2022, is granted for a 60 percent rating for IHD.,No earlier effective date is granted for the award of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.,An effective date of January 11, 2010, but no earlier, is granted for service connection for a surgical scar associated with IHD.,An effective date earlier than August 10, 2022, is denied for service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need to obtain inpatient treatment records from April 2017.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and TBI are both remanded as VA has not made reasonable efforts to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board dismissed the claims for a compensable rating for fifth metacarpal fracture and TDIU, as well as the request for an increased rating for PTSD and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD and TBI resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected, and a rating of at least 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 21, 2020 is granted. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and PTSD are currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and low back strain with sciatica are being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records, a new VA examination, and clarification of whether the Veteran intends to file an unemployability claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU were not met.