PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD after January 13, 2023 is denied. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 13, 2022 is also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left foot disorders, as well as initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, left ankle arthritis, and rosacea are remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in her medical records and concluding that she does not have a current disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as a result of an in-service stressor during active duty for training.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating, effective August 21, 2014. The bilateral pes planus service connection is also granted with an effective date of August 21, 2014.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability claim was previously denied in April 2012, but reopened due to new evidence received since then. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) was also reopened.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current hearing loss disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete or missing service treatment records, and for additional development of his disabilities. The issues include DDD (back pain), scoliosis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, deviated nasal septum, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 13, 2023. Beginning on that date, his TDIU is granted due to the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD. The issue of SMC based on housebound status has been dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased PTSD evaluation and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a VA examination to assess her current PTSD severity, and her employment history should be considered for TDIU.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for PTSD, right patellar tendonitis, and left patellar tendonitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU due to delays in scheduling a psychiatric examination, and issues related to service connection are not addressed as they are considered part of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's mental disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he was denied a temporary total rating for hospital treatment due to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest due to heart disorders, with significant contributing causes including diabetes and angioplasty. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD contributed substantially to his heart conditions, leading to a grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to cause his migraine headaches, and the claim for a higher rating for PTSD is denied. The case is remanded for further consideration of TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD, claimed as related to MST, and granted it. The decision is based on new evidence provided by the Veteran that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating of the veteran's bilateral hip disability, PTSD, and depressive disorder due to the appellant's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional disability resulting from right hand surgeries and mixed anxiety and depressive disorder with opioid use disorder (claimed as drug dependency, mental abuse, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder) due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and hearing loss due to additional VA medical records and examinations being added to the file. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ before a SSOC is issued.