PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits was denied as the debt would not be against equity and good conscience, despite the Veteran being unjustly enriched due to receiving full compensation during his incarceration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals were not timely filed and denied, as he did not provide a valid appeal request within one year of receiving the rating decisions. The Veteran provided reasons for his late filing but was unable to demonstrate good cause.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and dry mouth with tooth loss due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional treatment records from the Veteran's private cardiologist and non-VA community care providers.

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted, effective from September 28, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is now rated at 70 percent disabling effective January 5, 1998. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms warranted this higher rating.

Service connection for PTSD and tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's stomach disability, ear disability (other than tinnitus), vertigo, fibromyalgia, hypogeusia, skin condition, menorrhagia, and sexual disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for PTSD with bipolar disorder was granted, with the effective date set at February 11, 2010. The TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of March 6, 2020.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is dismissed because the underlying evaluation for the Veteran's right ankle disorder and PTSD was not appealed.

The Board has granted the appellant eligibility to fees from past due benefits awarded in a September 2023 rating decision granting a TDIU based on PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD prior to October 26, 2019 was dismissed because he did not provide good cause for filing his VA Form 10182 late.

The Veteran's kidney disability, PTSD, MDD, arthritis of the left and right hips, erectile dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, gout, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are all being remanded for further evaluation.,Specifically, the claims for a kidney disability, psychiatric disabilities (PTSD and MDD), arthritis of the hips, erectile dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, gout, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, and low back disability will be reviewed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be granted as the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate due to lack of analysis and consideration of all relevant medical evidence.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 14, 2022 for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his stroke residuals. The claim was not previously adjudicated as TDIU was attached to the service connection decision.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 50%, but the Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 70% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other service-connected conditions such as hearing loss and tinnitus, has resulted in total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and also granted TDIU.

Service connection for PTSD is denied.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for head trauma and memory loss is dismissed due to concurrent election. The Veteran's claim for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, which is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim, is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective April 30, 2024. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Service connection for a heart condition and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are causally related to in-service stressors and granting benefit of doubt.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, PTSD, and tension headaches with migraine headaches have been granted service connection. The Veteran also received an increased rating for PTSD to 70 percent effective June 10, 2021. However, the appeal seeking a higher rating for left knee disability has been dismissed.