PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and borderline personality disorder. The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric claim.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from September 5, 2014 to January 20, 2016 were found to meet the criteria for a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The case is being returned to the RO for additional development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's mental health diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, and the claim cannot be established without a current examination or reexamination.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as she has the education, training, and residual functional capacity to work in sedentary positions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to conflicting evidence regarding the current diagnosis of PTSD and in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. Additional efforts are required to obtain VA treatment records, including those from a private mental health provider through a VA Community Care program.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective September 27, 2014. His degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and hypertension are each rated at 30 percent, also effective September 27, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 30, 2015. The decision also granted a TDIU effective from the same date.

The Veteran's PTSD with sleep disorder is rated at a 70 percent rating throughout the appeal period, and a higher rating of 70 percent is granted. However, the issue of whether a rating in excess of 70 percent is warranted for his service-connected PTSD with sleep disorder remains pending.

PTSD was granted as a new finding based on new and material evidence. Residuals related to a head injury, low back condition, and right hand osteoarthritis were denied.,Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case is now REMANDED to obtain additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has other acquired psychiatric disorders, but remands to obtain an opinion on whether these are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to functional limitations, but additional compensation under SMC(r)(1) or SMC(r)(2) is precluded as he does not meet the threshold requirement for consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD is dismissed. Service connection for hypertension has been granted based on the PACT Act, but a remand is ordered to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension and other conditions. The Veteran's sinus condition and prostate condition are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Board also granted TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion for an earlier effective date prior to July 8, 1968, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia. The issues related to PTSD were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD prior to December 15, 2016 and for TDIU prior to that date was denied. The decision is based on the evidence showing reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, emotional detachment, and social isolation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current disability due to a disease or injury incurred in service.