PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for chronic sinusitis is denied due to the lack of evidence of incapacitating episodes.,PTSD service connection is denied as there is no current diagnosis and insufficient medical evidence linking PTSD to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, left knee disability (to include as secondary to service-connected psoriasis), bilateral eye disability (to include as secondary to service-connected psoriasis), and PTSD due to lack of evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for lower back condition, PTSD, left knee condition, and right knee. The Veteran must file a substantive appeal if he wishes to continue his appeal on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible evidence linking his symptoms to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, polysubstance use, adjustment disorder, and antisocial personality disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, particularly in verifying his claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain private hospital records from Houston, Texas where the Veteran received treatment prior to his suicide in February 1981. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and rating determinations due to the progression of his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD with insomnia disorder, right wrist strain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient continuity of symptoms post-service to establish a current disability.,The Board also denied service connection for a neck disorder, concluding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to active service due to lack of chronicity during service or within one year after separation.,Service connection was further denied for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), as there is no evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD and the Board found the Veteran's anxiety disorder unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the symptoms and functional impairment associated with PTSD.

Service connection is granted for PTSD, MDD, anxiety, migraines, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, MDD, anxiety, migraines, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher than 70 percent evaluation, as they were consistent with the symptoms associated with a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C due to unclear records regarding his confinement in service, lack of verification of a reported stressor event, and need for further development related to these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating effective August 28, 2016. The Veteran's ED does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left foot, and left hand disabilities are denied as the evidence does not support a current disability or link to his in-service fall.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 25, 2006 for the award of a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was timely filed and no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hypertension are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a nexus opinion regarding the relationship between his hypertension and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but he is now rated at 100% for PTSD. As a result, the claim for TDIU as of November 6, 2020 is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to January 23, 2021 have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.