PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and schizophrenia has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence, including SSA records indicating a diagnosis of schizophrenia in 1978. The Board granted this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The examiner must consider the Veteran's statements about PTSD interfering with OSA treatment and apply the correct standard for aggravation of a nonservice connected disability by a service-connected disability, including PTSD and heart disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD because the appellant failed to appear for a scheduled examination without good cause, and there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD in conformance with DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service emotional instability and its relation to his current psychiatric condition, as well as whether his conscientious objector request constitutes an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to her cause of death, a gastrointestinal bleed due to liver failure caused by alcohol abuse. The Board grants the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA mental health examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, higher initial rating for bronchial asthma, earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea, and whether ratings for both conditions should be combined.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertensive vascular disease, prostate cancer, cervical spine disorder (arthritis), and PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow gainful employment, as he has a combined evaluation of 80% and his conditions have not prevented him from working.

The decision on appeal is to remand the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to unclear findings in his previous examination. The reduction of the disability rating for coronary artery disease from 100% to 60% was found improper, and the higher rating is restored.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since the beginning of his claim, and he has a 100% combined rating for COPD and other service-connected disabilities. His bilateral hearing loss and CAD are both rated below their maximum possible ratings.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.,Service connection is not granted for hypertension, skin disability (melanoma), or an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's PTSD caused total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating from March 25, 2016.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as they did not manifest within one year of service or are otherwise related to service.,Service connection for depressive disorder unspecified with anxious distress (claimed as PTSD) is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from April 30, 2018. He also received TDIU and SMC based on his PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric condition, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and PTSD, was denied. The right and left knee patellar subluxation and malalignment were granted a 20% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to May 16, 2019 did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as they caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted. However, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.