PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, skin condition, left knee disability, and TDIU due to a lack of recent VA examinations and insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability and the need for verification of a reported service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case due to a material worsening of his symptoms since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for MDD was granted, while the claims for PTSD and a disorder manifested by fibroids were denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scar of the left breast was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for a heart disability. The respiratory issue is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD had a factually ascertainable increase in disability as of December 30, 2015. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from that date. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine/neck disorder and remanded for further examination and opinion regarding migraine headaches, herpes simplex virus, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% rating since December 1, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, based on the Veteran's in-service combat experiences in Iraq. The evidence is at least in balance that he has these conditions attributable to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors and for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability (MDD) is not related to his active or National Guard service, and the VA examiner found no evidence that it was caused by any of his service-connected disabilities.,Secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder cannot be granted as the Veteran's MDD is not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal for an increased rating of PTSD, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 50% rating, but his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the resection of his large intestine due to infection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The VA must provide a medical examination and opinion to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and he is awarded an initial rating of 70 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD is also granted. Service connection for allergic rhinitis on a direct basis is granted.

The Veteran's right hand disability and PTSD with insomnia have been granted service connection. Effective September 29, 2023, the Veteran is assigned a 70 percent rating for his PTSD with insomnia.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to June 24, 2018. The rating is increased to 70 percent effective from that date.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to support the claims.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claim of service connection for PTSD can be fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and PTSD due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent initial evaluation, but no higher. The symptoms have resulted in significant impairment, but not total occupational and social impairment.