PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for atypical chest pain as the Veteran withdrew her appeal in October 2022. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bruxism (secondary to fibromyalgia), and TMJ (secondary to fibromyalgia) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and TBI residuals, prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and work experience from July 23, 2014 through December 4, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas for the entire appeals period, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent prior to April 9, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and PTSD, along with his nonservice-connected kidney failure, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 30, 2015, but no earlier.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100 percent rating effective March 30, 2021. This represents a full award of the benefit sought on appeal from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 2018. The Board has now granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD, indicating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 23, 2013, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as presumed in-service Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence submitted. However, the claim is denied as there is no credible evidence of a personal assault during service and no medical link between current PTSD symptoms and any in-service stressor.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted a compensable rating of 10%.,The claim for service connection of sleep apnea has been reopened, and the issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and alcohol use disorder) and a lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the failure to schedule VA examinations as requested in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and traumatic plantar fasciitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and additional evidence is needed before service connection for a psychiatric disorder can be determined.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that the earliest eligible dates were November 4, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied because it is not factually ascertainable that the disability increased in severity to warrant such a rating within the year prior to his October 25, 2013, informal claim.

The Veteran's service-connected rhinosinusitis is found to be a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, which has been granted as secondary to his service-connected condition. The claim of PTSD was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence and the absence of a diagnosis conforming to DSM-5 criteria. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown during or after service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to perform personal care tasks.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence of a verified in-service stressor. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.