PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent, and his TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, a disability of service origin, contributed substantially or materially to his death.,He was discharged under honorable conditions and died due to a service-connected disability, meeting the basic eligibility requirements for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to March 17, 2020 and the Board has remanded for further development regarding a rating in excess of 50 percent from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining private medical records and addressing relevant symptoms. A new VA examination is needed, and the Veteran's additional symptoms should be considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected sinusitis is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for a neck scar is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for a skin condition (including cellulitis and/or contact dermatitis) is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), to include as secondary to service-connected disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the ability to engage in diverse and productive activities despite his social limitations due to PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds a remand is warranted because the record indicates that the Veteran may have a mental health condition secondary to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, right femur disability (fracture with intramedullary rodding), and scars associated with his right femur disability are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and Persian Gulf Syndrome due to additional evidence being added to the record after a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) was issued.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's service connection for discoid lupus and initial disability rating for PTSD are granted, but the issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board has denied an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of verified stressors and willful misconduct, which precludes compensation for substance abuse.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and a left arm disability due to lack of current diagnoses in accordance with DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder and Coronary Artery Disease was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 50% for PTSD, and the criteria for a higher rating are not met. For Coronary Artery Disease, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10% prior to August 23, 2016, or in excess of 60% thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a skin disorder. The Board found that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors related to military sexual trauma (MST) and that the Veteran's reported history of MST is inconsistent with other evidence.,The Board also determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or a skin disorder that began during service, as her symptoms were not present until years after separation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence not previously reviewed by the AOJ.

Service connection for COPD is granted from August 10, 2022, due to exposure to fine particulate matter during service in the Persian Gulf. The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension are not rated higher.