PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective June 6, 2019. The Veteran's left knee condition remains pending for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left knee tendonitis and recurrent subluxation/persistent instability are both remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided that the claims of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder need further review due to new evidence received by VA.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, left testicle disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's sciatic neuropathy, left lower extremity, is granted. The claims for right leg pain with poor blood circulation, left leg pain with poor blood circulation, and left quadricep contusion are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is also remanded due to insufficient verification of the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with Bipolar Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for anxiety and/or depression has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence to support a link between his current psychiatric disorders and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of PTSD, alcohol dependence, and polysubstance dependence is denied. The Board also found that a remand is necessary to address the service connection claim for sleep apnea due to service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case is being returned for further development and an examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and MDD, finding the Appellant's account of his alleged stressors and onset of mental health symptoms during service to be not credible. There is no persuasive evidence that PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder began in or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU is granted, while the propriety of the rating reductions for PTSD and skin condition are still pending. The Board finds that these matters must be remanded due to their inextricable link with the Veteran's main claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or coronary artery disease. The VA needs to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hemorrhoids, and IBS have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. Regarding SMC due to need for aid and attendance, the case is remanded as there are factual issues regarding whether the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to ensure proper evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI, as the current VA opinion was inadequate and did not differentiate symptoms related to each condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI residuals is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no separate compensable rating for PTSD with TBI as it is already covered under the current 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for TBI and PTSD is remanded due to conflicting opinions in the record and testimony indicating worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is required to assess current severity and differentiate between TBI residuals and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted, while the claims for right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and right ear tinnitus were denied. The Veteran's service connection for a right thumb injury and right hand radiculopathy was granted.,The Veteran has been awarded ratings for her right thumb injury and right hand radiculopathy, but not for other conditions such as PTSD, hearing loss, or knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and plantar fasciitis) are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of issuance of a Statement of Case (SOC) regarding service connection for PTSD. The Veteran is advised on how to proceed with his appeal.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are granted as they are related to his service in Bosnia.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to report for a VA examination and needs further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.