PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, as are his PTSD and anxiety disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a valid diagnosis and the weight of the medical evidence does not support a finding that her current condition is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, headache disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to delays in scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's failure to report for these examinations is being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD, with dysthymic disorder, alcohol and cocaine dependence, was rated at 70 percent prior to March 22, 2023. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The TDIU claim was denied due to lack of submission of a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted under the PACT Act, but an effective date prior to August 10, 2022 is not established due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his thoracolumbar spine disability and related nerve radiculopathy issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and PTSD, as well as her claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran will need to undergo further examinations and evaluations to determine if she meets the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to verify the Veteran's deployment to Kuwait. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence, including National Guard records and Social Security Administration disability award information.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and panic disorder without agoraphobia resulted in loss of use of a creative organ, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for HPV and TDIU are remanded due to lack of clarity regarding the relationship between service-connected conditions and treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder as separate from his service-connected PTSD, finding that his depressive symptoms were subsumed under his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder, has been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder outside of alcohol use disorder. Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not establish a link between the claimed conditions and service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and right upper extremity neuropathy due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed stressors in service and insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was granted starting from September 26, 2017, due to his permanent and total service-connected disability caused by PTSD.

The Veteran's left knee disability, along with other service-connected conditions, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for the left knee disability and granted a TDIU effective October 7, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records and a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression, is granted as service-connected. Night blindness and urinary frequency are denied as not related to service or any other compensable basis. Hernia complications are also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, memory loss (undiagnosed illness), and left-hand condition. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,Entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected anemia and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of her claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, and PTSD.