PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted an effective date of March 18, 2005 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The Veteran's TDIU claim was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted in May 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in February 2018, but the Board finds no new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication.,Service connection for migraines is granted. The Veteran's medical records confirm a diagnosis of migraine headaches, which he asserts began during his deployment to Southwest Asia. A private clinician opines that the Veteran's migraines are at least as likely as not related to his service exposure.,The effective date for PTSD is denied as it was received on April 24, 2019, after a Supplemental Claim was filed in June 2019. The Board finds no earlier effective date due to the timing of the claim and receipt of evidence.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted with an initial 30% rating from June 4, 2019. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied in January 2020 but later increased to 50%. The Board finds no earlier effective date due to the timing of the claims and receipt of evidence.,Service connection for fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome) is remanded as new evidence has not been received since an unappealed February 2018 rating decision.,Service connection for gastrointestinal symptoms (including irritable bowel syndrome) is remanded as new evidence has not been received since an unappealed February 2018 rating decision.,Service connection for left ankle disability is remanded as new evidence has not been received since an unappealed February 2018 rating decision.,Service connection for right foot disability is remanded as new evidence has not been received since an unappealed February 2018 rating decision.,Service connection for left foot disability is remanded as new evidence has not been received since an unappealed February 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.,The Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his military service.,The Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status is denied as he does not meet the criteria to establish SMC at the statutory housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to PTSD was denied. The effective date of the 100% disability rating for PTSD is set at August 18, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and the need to verify in-service stressors related to PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is related to his military service in the Gulf War. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lower back disability, PTSD, and left knee disability due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA will attempt to obtain these records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, low back pain and dysfunction, right knee pain and dysfunction, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, requiring a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD disability was found to warrant a 70% evaluation as of October 12, 2021. The effective date for this award is set at that time.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his chronic thoracolumbar spine strain evaluation is remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is related to his active duty service and grants this claim.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as for a cervical spine disability. The claim for an increased rating to 50 percent for PTSD and depression is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective September 30, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated those required for a 70 percent rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for PTSD and entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU) as these issues have been fully addressed in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating was restored to 100% effective September 1, 2020.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35 was also restored from the same date.