PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bipolar disorder and gastroenteritis due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 50% rating, effective from December 8, 2014. Service connection for fibromyalgia and muscle and joint pain (undiagnosed illness) is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was related to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service. The Board has also remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and bilateral foot pain have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal in the legacy system.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical strain based on the receipt of new and material evidence is granted. The issues of service connection for PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, hemorrhoids, right hallux valgus, left hallux valgus, lumbar disc disease and strain, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee tendonitis, and generalized anxiety disorder are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD, a back disability, and/or right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer, PTSD, ED, and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings for a headache disorder and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have not been fully developed and requires additional development before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating for the entire initial rating period prior to October 12, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and research into his claimed stressors. The Veteran is also seeking a higher disability rating for his left thumb condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) and granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for Erectile Dysfunction, as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for the period prior to March 8, 2019. The issue of TDIU for the period prior to February 24, 2014, is now moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a total disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, head injury, and headaches due to incomplete records. The Veteran's STRs are missing, and the Board is directing further development including obtaining medical records from Uzbekistan and scheduling VA examinations.