PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, bilateral pes planus, and status post right bunionectomy due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to November 30, 2021. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand all the claims for further development due to errors in obtaining medical records and military personnel records.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the current diagnoses of psychiatric disorders and a lack of adequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are being remanded for further clarification and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for PTSD and depression due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in not providing a VA examination. The Veteran's lay statements and service records suggest an in-service personal assault, which could corroborate the stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to have started during active service and continues since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder is being remanded due to the need to verify his reported stressor involving exposure to gore from battles fought in Grenada and horrific sights in the aftermath of the invasion.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD caused him to require regular aid and attendance since at least March 2012, which is the earliest date for which he met the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective October 17, 2022. Other service-connected conditions have been addressed and are either granted or remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for PTSD, OSA, splenectomy, and tinnitus as the appellant requested a withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial gainful employment prior to April 15, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted from February 6, 2013. The Board found that due to his service-connected disabilities, he required the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain, and left foot drop have been withdrawn by the Veteran through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for a determination on the cause of death claim, and dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied due to lack of total disability rating.

The Veteran's IBS is related to her service-connected PTSD with panic attacks and MDD with anxious distress, but the VA examiner did not provide a sufficient opinion regarding this relationship. The Board finds that the VA examination was inadequate and remands for an addendum opinion.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected disabilities to his cardiorespiratory arrest.

The Board has denied a higher rating for PTSD and has remanded the claim of TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder was denied, and the claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted with a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to more closely approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, granting an initial rating of 70 percent.