PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist, including failing to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressor and provide a VA examination for his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides and/or disabilities. Service connection is also granted for GERD, migraine headaches, TBI, neck disability, and low back disability.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of December 15, 2010, as the Board finds that he was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities starting from this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC based on housebound criteria, finding that no new claim was submitted within one year of the October 2019 rating decision.

The Board has remanded four service connection issues on appeal due to errors in the duty to assist, including failing to secure earlier VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to care for his daily personal needs without assistance from others, or unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living on a regular basis. Therefore, entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is being remanded due to unclear notice and duty-to-assist error. The matter will be evaluated under statutory criteria for need for supervision, protection, or instruction with clear reasons and bases.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since July 20, 2016. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on the opinion of the Veteran's treating physician, who concluded that the Veteran's sleep apnea is more likely than not directly associated with his military-service-acquired PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, right leg, left leg, and erectile dysfunction disabilities. The claims of service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD are remanded due to the lack of relevant private treatment records.,Further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claim of a right arm disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD. The Board finds that a new VA examination and addendum opinions are needed to reconcile the conflicting evidence.

Service connection is granted for right hip stress fracture, posttraumatic DJD of the right hip.,Service connection is granted for left hip stress fracture, posttraumatic DJD of the left hip.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder (also claimed as panic disorder) due to personal trauma (PT).,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for cervicothoracic pain with right upper extremity radicular pain and weakness.,Service connection is granted for traumatic brain injury residuals.,Service connection is granted for brain aneurysm.,Service connection is granted for low back pain.,Service connection is granted for cephalgia (headaches).

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by recurrent impaired impulse control and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, resulting in a grant of a 70 percent rating from February 19, 1971.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should receive a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance. The examiner will assess whether he requires assistance with daily activities, dressing, feeding, hygiene, mobility, and confinement.

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to November 1, 2019.,From August 19, 2010 to October 31, 2019, the Veteran's PTSD rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 30, 2008 to March 7, 2013 due to outstanding private treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a maximum initial disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that it is related to an in-service event.