PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his symptoms are related to an in-service personal assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system and his February 2019 VA Form 10182 is accepted as a timely NOD for the issues on appeal. The issues will be readjudicated, and if adverse to the Veteran, he will be given an opportunity to perfect his appeal by filing a VA Form 9.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and insomnia, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors are consistent with his service and that there is a reasonable possibility of a link between his current symptoms and these stressors. The decision also resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the need for a VA examination to confirm any psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment from August 29, 2013 to March 2, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the severity of his PTSD.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claim was filed on April 26, 2018, and therefore, the earliest possible effective date is April 26, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for COPD, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection under the applicable regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person throughout the period on appeal, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and barosinusitis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence may be considered and the Veteran's request for a hearing is withdrawn. The case is on appeal from an April 2017 rating decision, where PTSD was rated at 30 percent. A September 2018 rating decision increased the PTSD rating to 50 percent effective August 26, 2016. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling since that date.

The Board has found that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his service in Vietnam. However, due to a lack of contemporaneous medical evidence, the VA is required to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if the contended stressor occurred and whether the current diagnoses are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disability claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the alleged stressors events that may have contributed to the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be reconsidered after verifying these events.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, coronary artery disease, painful scars of the left foot and left shoulder, scar from removal of sebaceous cyst below right eye, bilateral hearing loss, and malaria are being remanded for additional development to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as it constitutes a freestanding claim, not based on CUE in a prior decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA mental health examination to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD. The TDIU claim is granted beginning June 20, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for SMC based on aid and attendance and housebound status due to inadequate medical opinions from a general practitioner. The Veteran needs an examination by a mental health provider to assess his need for aid and attendance and permanent housebound status due to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral total knee replacements and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective June 27, 2019.,Since September 20, 2019, the Veteran's chronic lumbar strain disability has been rated at 20 percent, with an effective date of September 20, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain his private and Vet Center treatment records.