PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting an initial 70 percent rating from January 13, 2016 to February 7, 2018.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, are found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU based on PTSD alone, combined with other disabilities, meets the schedular requirements for SMC based on housebound status during the periods under consideration.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.,PTSD and depressive disorder are rated at 50 percent, with no further issues on appeal regarding this condition.,Bilateral hearing loss has a non-compensable rating.,Prostate cancer remains in remission; the Veteran's current symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve) is rated at 10 percent prior to January 4, 2017 and at 20 percent from that date onward.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (femoral nerve) remains at a 20 percent rating.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) is rated at 40 percent, with no further issues on appeal regarding this condition.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) is rated at 40 percent, with no further issues on appeal regarding this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. His initial rating for bilateral pes planus prior to August 24, 2020, remains at 10 percent; however, a higher rating of 50 percent is assigned from that date onwards.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to non-compliance with prior remands. The AOJ is required to verify if there was a Naval collision involving the Tugboat Oshkosh and a U.S. Navy submarine in May 1973 at Norfolk, Virginia. If unconfirmed, an examination will be arranged to determine if the Veteran has depression disorder and its relationship to PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is granted, but the issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending and requires further examination to determine if it is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent, then increased to 50 percent effective January 9, 2018. From that date until June 19, 2018, the rating remained at 50 percent. After June 19, 2018, a 70 percent disability rating was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with parasomnia is granted at a 100% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and a back disorder due to incomplete rationale in previous opinions. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to hearing about his friend from high school who died during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating effective January 12, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Board has denied service connection for keratinization skin disorders of the feet and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with his other service-connected conditions, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 15, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on a schedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to his service-connected skin disability and a laceration on the left side of the head. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which he claims is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain all relevant VA treatment records, including those from the Mountain Home Veteran Center and any other VA mental health clinic. The claims are now pending for further proceedings.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, alcoholism, and dizziness due to lack of a valid in-service stressor and the absence of a current diagnosis attributable to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from October 25, 2016. The claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been reopened due to the receipt of new evidence.