PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible and probative evidence demonstrating that the claimed in-service stressful events occurred or were related to his current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been granted, and the Board has remanded several issues including bilateral hip disability other than arthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his inservice TBI. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are linked to service, but the VA examiner found no clear and unmistakable evidence of preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective July 7, 2005. The Board found no earlier date of entitlement.

The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU was dismissed due to the appellant's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they do not survive the appellant's death.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment, so the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

Your claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, but the benefit is already in effect and no further action is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with secondary alcohol dependence due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including verification of an in-service stressor related to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and GERD have been granted service connection, with a TDIU rating from October 9, 2017. The PTSD is rated at 70 percent, while the GERD has been granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's opinion and a need for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI has been rated at 70% since December 11, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and TDIU due to service-connected PTSD, as well as obtaining additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current PTSD severity, as he has asserted increased symptomatology and it has been over six years since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service.,The Veteran's genitourinary disability is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.,The Veteran's right wrist CTS is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the November 2022 VA examiner to determine if it is related to service.,PTSD and other specified depressive disorder (hereinafter PTSD) are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.,Right leg shin splints are being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.,Left leg shin splints are being remanded for an addendum opinion from the June 2022 VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.,Allergic rhinitis is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the January 2023 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.,Dermatitis is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the January 2023 VA examiner to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100 percent disability rating for the period prior to January 18, 2023. The appeal concerning left ear hearing loss was withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was initially denied in October 2007 and reopened due to new evidence submitted in November 2014. The effective date of service connection is set at October 27, 2014.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted because he served 30 continuous days on active duty and was discharged due to a service-connected disability (PTSD).

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for various conditions and special monthly compensation (SMC) as the appellant requested withdrawal of these appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and right shoulder disability have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of September 1, 2013.,Prior to July 25, 2013, the Veteran did not meet the percentage standards set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) for a TDIU.