PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and no higher. The claim for a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD alone is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Adjustment disorder, Major depressive disorder, and Generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric disability claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety due to the need for further verification of stressor events and additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding whether the appellant was insane at the time of his misconduct, which led to his discharge. The VA will also ensure that all relevant records are associated with the claims file.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: PTSD with major depression, bipolar disorder, left knee condition, and kidney condition. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors, clarify whether he has a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, obtain VA treatment records, and provide an opinion on the relationship between his service and these conditions.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the (l) rate for regular aid and attendance due to TBI with PTSD, and SMC at the (t) rate for requiring institutional care. The Veteran's spouse provides regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for DMII, PTSD, and CAD have been granted. The claim for service connection for CAD is granted under the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Guam. The claims for DMII and PTSD are remanded due to lack of verification of stressors.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for service connection for DMII has been granted, with the issue being granted under the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Guam. The claim for service connection for CAD is also granted under the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Guam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and there were no exceptional factors from his service-connected disabilities that precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's tension headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, and no higher rating is warranted under the current criteria.,The Veteran's TBI residuals with vertigo are currently rated at 10 percent. A remand is required to determine if a higher rating could be assigned based on the severity of the vertigo.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion and clarifying the Veteran's claims. The issues of service connection for various conditions are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, DDD of the lumbar spine, and fibromyalgia have been granted effective as October 4, 2012.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder), hypertension, gout, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, lower back DJD, neck disorder with pain and numbness down the hands, and COPD. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from December 1, 2015 to July 26, 2018. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU for this period is denied.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's PTSD prior to July 22, 2020, based on symptoms of avoidance behaviors, hypervigilance, and numbing symptoms that impacted his ability to establish and maintain effective social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD and OCD is remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board requires a new psychiatric examination to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% before November 21, 2022. The VA granted an earlier effective date of November 21, 2022 for the increased 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disability.