PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with specified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 2, 2019. Effective August 2, 2019, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current disability raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back pain, PTSD, TBI with headaches and numbness of upper and lower extremities are remanded as there are no recent medical records to assess the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip pain, eczema, and muscle/joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness are remanded as VA opinions are inadequate. Further development is needed to determine if his disabilities qualify under presumptive provisions or if they are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip pain is remanded as the VA opinion of record was inadequate and did not address direct service connection, aggravation prong of secondary service connection, or provide a rationale based on medical literature.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete records. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for relevant treatment records, including hospital records related to his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete private treatment records and a need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, which are claimed as secondary to jaw pain and/or his service-connected PTSD. The VA examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's headaches are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. The heart disorder issue, including service connection due to herbicide agent exposure and as secondary to PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent for the entire period on appeal, and their TDIU claim is dismissed as they are already receiving a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DMII was denied, and his PTSD was granted a 100% rating. The issue of TDIU due to PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran has already been granted a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records. The Board finds that current VA treatment records are necessary to support or refute the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a tooth condition and service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of additional disability caused by VA care.

The veteran withdrew their appeals for a higher rating and total disability due to PTSD, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records. The effective dates for service connection will be determined after review of all evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis of PTSD is related to a reported military sexual trauma (MST) during his time in boot camp. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of PTSD with TBI was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent rating under the criteria for rating mental health disabilities, which is more favorable to him than a rating for TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis regarding whether there is a nexus between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and his military service, specifically an explosion at Fort Dix in 1983.

The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder, PTSD, and agoraphobia have resulted in total occupational and social impairment from December 14, 2017, to August 1, 2018. The claim for a TDIU is moot as the disability rating has now been fully granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating, and the appeal for increased ratings of plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, service connection for human T-cell lymphotropic virus antibody, and hypertension are dismissed. The appeal for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, and service connection for a back disability (lumbar degenerative disc disease) is also granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates and disability ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all open appeals by the Veteran's authorized representative.