PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted service connection. The Veteran's lower back condition remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of November 9, 2022. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date was November 9, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the claim for service connection for Borderline Personality Disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, but denied service connection for anxiety and mood swings as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and the claim for joint pains is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is rated at 50 percent effective August 13, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and tremors has been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at May 4, 2012. A TDIU due solely to PTSD was granted as of May 1, 2022. Service connection for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) issued by the Veteran's representative and the VA Office of the General Counsel. The JMR requested that the Board address the issue of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, including evidence provided during the December 2021 hearing where the Veteran's spouse stated he cannot be around bodies of water without being reminded.

The Veteran's current PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, and the Board granted service connection for PTSD based on this evidence.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a pilonidal cyst and scars associated with it has been granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea secondary to that disorder, eczema, and low back disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with her work and education background.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient notice regarding personal assault evidence and a need for an examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is based on a reported in-service personal assault, which requires specific notice under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5).

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not received within one year from the date of issuance of the July 2014 rating decision, which denied service connection for a right shoulder condition and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from October 28, 2012, through March 10, 2020 is being remanded due to conflicting employment information and the need for clarification regarding his leave of absence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is denied as he does not have this condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depression disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia) is denied. The Veteran submitted opinions from private doctors stating that he has these conditions, but the Board finds their opinions outweighed by other medical evidence of record and insufficient to establish a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and his STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right lower extremity nerve disorder, and left lower extremity nerve disorder are denied as the Veteran's STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation, bradycardia) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his atrial fibrillation is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema (right and left) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service and the VA examiner found that his bradycardia is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. There is no in-service noise exposure documented and the Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to February 13, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions. The issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and GERD with gastroparesis, as well as entitlement to TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing these issues from appeal following remand by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for increased ratings for bilateral foot disability. The claim for TDIU prior to August 21, 2015 was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The appeal regarding service connection has been denied.