PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

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.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST, as there is insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and obesity have non-compensable ratings, while her PTSD is rated at 50 percent. The Board has remanded the issues of a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU.,Obesity was granted as secondary to PTSD, but cannot be compensated under the schedule for rating disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate has been dismissed due to the Veteran's motion to dismiss.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, IBS, lumbosacral strain, and left cubital tunnel syndrome are denied as the earliest possible effective date allowable by law is May 15, 2018.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities remain pending.

The appeal seeking a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, sleep disturbances including obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depressive disorder, TBI, and related disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence for a left eardrum disability. The other issues are being remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (IBS) and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder are both remanded.

The Veteran's hairy cell leukemia is granted as due to Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection for PTSD was remanded.

The reduction of the disability rating for PTSD from 70% to 50%, effective April 1, 2014, was improper. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU was also improperly discontinued. Restoration of a 70% disability rating for PTSD is granted.