PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and he seeks a higher rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition has been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted. The claim for obesity is denied as a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

The Veteran's initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD prior to January 31, 2023 is granted. A higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for prostate cancer was granted. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a major depressive disorder, as well as for a chronic disability manifested by vertigo/dizziness, were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for Heart Condition, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder), Deep Vein Thrombosis of the right leg, Deep Vein Thrombosis of the left leg, and Sleep Apnea due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The cause of death due to lung cancer is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a rating increase were dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they have died.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied due to his character of discharge. After the character of discharge was upgraded from Other Than Honorable to Honorable, the Veteran filed a new intent-to-file and the VA granted the claim with an effective date of January 13, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, or permanently housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding an October 2021 phone call from the Veteran to VA. The matter is now for readjudication.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate a 70 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol abuse disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions, including PTSD with mood disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, are rated at 100 percent effective from the date of the award of service connection.

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits were improperly terminated from September 16, 2016 to January 8, 2018 due to fugitive felon status. The reduction of his benefits from January 9, 2018 to June 9, 2018 was also improper due to incarceration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been granted.,The reopened claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100% and an additional disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Board found that his TDIU granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA criteria for a disability. TMJ dysfunction is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities is denied.