PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is now pending with a request for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that an increased rating in excess of 70 percent is not required. The case is remanded for further development regarding a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's mental health condition, specifically PTSD and unspecified trauma disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent since December 4, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, but his secondary claim for sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service connection of PTSD, finding that no additional service department records were available at the time of the initial denial in 1995 and thus any attempts to obtain these records would not have changed the basis of the prior denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; back disability; right knee disability; left knee disability; and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the scope of the claim is expanded to include other acquired psychiatric disabilities. A VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection and increased ratings, as well as earlier effective date claims for the Veteran's conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no longer a question of fact or law regarding service connection for PTSD because it had already been granted in a previous decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 11, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD (bipolar disorder) was denied. A rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted effective July 15, 2014. The claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to October 28, 2016 and from that date are both denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50 percent rating prior to October 5, 2017 and denied for ratings higher than 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection related to stressor-related disorder, low back pain with sciatica, and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for TBI is denied. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, particularly for PTSD.

The claims of service connection for liver disorder, hypertension, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and left testicle disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses and potential in-service events will be evaluated.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to August 13, 2014. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's IBS.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of current diagnosis and insufficient evidence supporting the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The Veteran needs an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor could not be verified and his symptoms did not meet the criteria for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for essential tremors and TDIU prior to April 17, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU from April 17, 2019.