PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a left elbow disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a neck disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder) are not related to his service.

The Veteran's employment status is unclear, and he has not provided information about his current employment. As a result, the Board finds that the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and a heart condition. The claims are being remanded again due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for psychiatric disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disability, and obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection will be considered based on the presumption of exposure to toxic substances during military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he has not been precluded from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 70 percent disabling prior to May 29, 2018. For the entire appeal period, an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's CAD claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions and requests for verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left femur fracture residuals, and diabetes mellitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from October 1, 2013 to February 22, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns raised by the parties regarding the Veteran's unemployability prior to March 14, 2017, and a referral for extraschedular TDIU consideration is required.

A 30 percent rating for asthma is granted, separate from a rating for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeals seeking reopening of a prior final denial of service connection for memory loss; service connection for fatigue, bilateral hearing loss, and hernia; increased ratings greater than 10 percent each for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and residuals of right fifth metatarsal fracture; and an earlier effective date than May 23, 2018, for the grants of service connection for left and right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbosacral strain, hypertension, tension headaches, right and left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint instability, and asthma are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being examined further.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for PTSD has also been granted. However, the claim for service connection for deviated septum was previously established in an August 2019 rating decision and is therefore dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as earlier effective dates, due to prior decisions in a previous appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was denied. The Board found that there were no verified stressor events in service to support the claimed conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss condition also did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for a left knee condition and right knee condition are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,PTSD was granted with an initial rating of 30 percent, effective January 16, 2018. The rating was increased to 50 percent on September 15, 2020.