PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling from August 7, 2017, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for PFB and remanded the issues of alcohol abuse secondary to PTSD and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure by VA to obtain SSA disability records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcoholism, and sleep disorder are now before the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its decision, specifically regarding whether service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae contributed to the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The case is now being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and the submission of missing private treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder, is now pending.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, but no higher, and a TDIU is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for various conditions including bladder disorder, migraine disorder (claimed as light sensitivity), eye disorder, skin disorder, toenail disorder, fingernail disorder, impotency, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and loss of sensation of the upper and lower extremities. The claims are being remanded due to failure to provide VA examinations.

The Board's decision in this case is granted, and the part of the decision that denied a disability rating more than 50 percent for PTSD prior to April 18, 2017 is vacated due to a due process error caused by an outstanding Privacy Act Request.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD has been granted a 100 percent rating effective June 30, 2017. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate or based on the need of regular aid and attendance is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, leaving no question of law or fact to be decided by the Board. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied, and the effective date prior to January 20, 2017, for service connection for PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to March 13, 2020 has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the case to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressor of being assigned to the morgue to assist with checking caskets/body bags for contraband from deceased servicemembers returning from combat in Vietnam. The search was conducted only for a specific time period and did not cover the entire period of service at Dover AFB.

The Veteran's PTSD has been remanded for an appropriate VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected disability, as he did not receive treatment at his most recent VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for panic disorder, effective December 29, 2016, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the symptoms and overall impairment caused by the Veteran's panic disorder more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied a rating in excess of 50 percent. Ratings for left and right knee conditions are granted, but not in excess of the current assigned ratings. Service connection is established for headaches, residuals from carpal tunnel release on the right wrist, and right wrist scar.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and a psychiatric disability to include PTSD due to inadequate examination reports and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.