PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of persuasive evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of his back disability, left leg disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), head injury, and tailbone disability. The cases are remanded for further development including VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder NOS are currently rated as 50 percent disabling, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues related to the Veteran's alleged stressor and his reported in-service experiences, as well as his neck disability, headache disability, and brain aneurysm.

The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to his character of discharge from service, which barred him from VA benefits. He later had his discharge upgraded and filed a new claim in 2014, leading to the grant of service connection for PTSD effective September 5, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from February 1, 2007 to February 22, 2010. Therefore, a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD with Traumatic Brain Injury is remanded due to the need for new medical evidence and an updated VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, and substance abuse due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was filed more than one year after separation from service, so the effective date is set to the date of claim (November 12, 2009). No earlier effective date can be granted.

The veteran withdrew their appeals for increased disability ratings in both posttraumatic stress disorder and cerebellar stroke and traumatic brain injury cases. The Board has dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcoholism was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues, including PTSD with depressive disorder, surgical scars of the right ankle, status post fracture of right ankle with ORIF, tendonitis of the left knee, actinic keratosis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted. The appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period (1 year of separation from service). Continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's initial rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, prior to October 29, 2018, was denied as his claim was part of a TDIU application. The Board remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's total disability rating for individual unemployability, prior to October 29, 2018, was referred to the Compensation Service Director for further review.

The Veteran's appeals of a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to uncertainty regarding her employment status in 2016 and 2017. The Board requests additional information from the employer Binder & Binder.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, Chronic Widespread Pain, and Anxiety Disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent from July 30, 2019 was dismissed. A 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with TBI is granted from August 28, 2018 to July 30, 2019. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD with TBI prior to August 28, 2018 was denied. A 20 percent disability rating for chronic dry eye syndrome associated with PTSD with TBI is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The VA must provide a new opinion addressing causation and aggravation.