PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disability, and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and anxiety; a bilateral knee disability, including DJD; and a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The Board also found that his myasthenia gravis, which was presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, is service-connected.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for service connection for HIV and fatigue. The case is now remanded for further action on the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew all of his appeals seeking service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and CAD have been rated at a 70 percent disability level, effective August 30, 2018. The Board also granted TDIU based on the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities, and SMC for need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and insomnia is remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will conduct a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the claims for PTSD, other specified depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder should be remanded due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from January 4, 2018. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms more closely approximated a 70 percent rating and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was granted, effective August 31, 2000. The new evidence included a special order from January 1973 indicating the Veteran was to proceed in Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan during that period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 22, 2019 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with alcohol and cannabis use disorder. The evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least May 15, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding the Veteran's individual unemployability prior to March 30, 2009, and grants an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded all other claims due to incomplete or insufficient evidence.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD and a 20 percent rating for a right shoulder shell fragment wound, both effective as of July 30, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 100 percent disability rating since April 26, 2021, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) has already granted service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, effective October 18, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service personal assaults and acoustic trauma, respectively. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on aid and attendance from April 21, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and TDIU were dismissed due to the failure to submit a timely VA Form 10182.