PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's TBI residuals are restored to a 10 percent rating effective July 6, 2021. The initial PTSD rating is granted at 70 percent prior to September 24, 2019 and denied for higher ratings thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100% evaluation. The claim for TDIU is moot as he is already receiving a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted. The issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include headaches, is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for pulmonary nodules and kidney stones have been dismissed. The claims of service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, PVD of the right and left lower extremities, PTSD, and OSA are all granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ED and PTSD with Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood were denied. The cervical spine, RUE radiculopathy, LUE radiculopathy, thoracolumbar spine disorder, hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, and left shoulder disorder claims were remanded. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to vacate the May 16, 2023 decision denying an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU. The Veteran is now in receipt of TDIU from May 01, 2012, due to his service-connected PTSD symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection, and his right forearm flexion disability remains at a 10% rating. The TDIU issue related to the right forearm supination and pronation is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective December 27, 2006. The decision also grants basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status as of the same date.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of service connection for COPD was withdrawn during the May 2022 hearing.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for PTSD. The Board has remanded the case to obtain outstanding VA treatment records from March 2012 to the present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a cervical spine disability, as well as his service connection claim for bone cancer are remanded due to incomplete examinations and lack of information on the competency of VA examiners. Additionally, a temporary total rating based on convalescence (based on surgery for bone cancer) and TDIU claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate response to the February 2022 remand instructions and failure to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor event.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD (now claimed as any acquired psychiatric disorder) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety and depression.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and granted it, finding that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for a VA examination to reconcile this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the need for additional evidence or examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, to include PTSD due to MST and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is remanded. The Board finds that a new VA examination is required to clarify the results of the October 2017 VA examination and determine if the Veteran has PTSD due to MST or whether his other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including seeking service connection for various psychiatric and physical conditions. The appeals are not about the PACT Act or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) and for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disability, nor was there sufficient evidence to establish service connection based on direct service connection or aggravation of a pre-existing condition. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's pure tone thresholds were within normal limits with no significant speech discrimination impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of his service-connected PTSD prior to December 10, 2019; right foot fifth metatarsal fracture; hiatal hernia with GERD; erectile dysfunction; and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are also remanded for additional opinions regarding the relationship between his nonservice-connected psychiatric disabilities and his service-connected PTSD.