PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and remands the case for a new opinion addressing all theories of entitlement to service connection, including secondary to PTSD, musculoskeletal disabilities, and medications.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is sufficient to support entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). As of January 24, 2023, the Veteran also meets the criteria for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on housebound status due to his service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's TDIU based solely on his service-connected PTSD is granted effective November 30, 2010. Additionally, the Veteran's SMC at the housebound rate is also granted as of this date due to the combination of his PTSD disability and other disabilities rated at 60% or greater.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 20, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine strain is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent since July 6, 2021. The Board denied higher ratings for the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have necessitated his reliance on others to attend to his daily personal activities, and the Board has determined that he requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD and heart issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including lower back disorder, right shoulder disorder, right foot disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), COPD, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's sinusitis and PTSD have been granted service connection, with a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to February 1, 2017.,Beginning February 1, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD was manifested by total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, as are his PTSD and anxiety disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a valid diagnosis and the weight of the medical evidence does not support a finding that her current condition is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, headache disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to delays in scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's failure to report for these examinations is being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD, with dysthymic disorder, alcohol and cocaine dependence, was rated at 70 percent prior to March 22, 2023. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The TDIU claim was denied due to lack of submission of a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted under the PACT Act, but an effective date prior to August 10, 2022 is not established due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his thoracolumbar spine disability and related nerve radiculopathy issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and PTSD, as well as her claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran will need to undergo further examinations and evaluations to determine if she meets the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to verify the Veteran's deployment to Kuwait. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence, including National Guard records and Social Security Administration disability award information.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and panic disorder without agoraphobia resulted in loss of use of a creative organ, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for HPV and TDIU are remanded due to lack of clarity regarding the relationship between service-connected conditions and treatment.