PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure is granted.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral upper extremity neurological disorders (likely carpal tunnel syndrome), and a disorder manifested by dizziness are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 29, 2021 did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 30 percent. Since March 29, 2021, his symptoms have not met the criteria for a disability rating higher than 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The appeal regarding earlier effective dates and disability ratings for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a higher rating due to evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient development and need for a more detailed opinion regarding whether PTSD contributed substantially or materially to the production of death.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are not service connected as they existed prior to service. The recurrent sinus disability and psychiatric disability were not shown during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from October 9, 2013 until May 11, 2017. Effective October 9, 2013, the Veteran's TDIU and Dependents Education Assistance are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a mental disorder and that the evidence did not meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board found that the reduction of the PTSD rating from 100% to 10% was not proper and restored the original 100% rating.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from February 18, 2016, to December 31, 2017, and since April 1, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during these periods.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons or bases in the decision, and additional development is needed. The Veteran should be provided another opportunity to submit a completed VA Form 21-8940 and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, including as due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST), has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence supports the diagnosis of PTSD and established a causal link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sinus disability, and vertigo were granted. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, hand disability, right knee disability, back disability, flat foot disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were granted a 50 percent rating prior to January 6, 2020. From that date, the Veteran was denied any higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left-eye loss of vision and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claims will be reviewed with additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective August 1, 2008. The decision found that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to April 23, 2019, due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), was denied. Additionally, his claims for increased ratings for upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period from June 12, 2007 to January 9, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to June 12, 2007 was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date for the award of service connection based on new and material evidence is March 20, 2017, which is already earlier than the date provided by the regulations.