PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and gaps in treatment records.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The examiner will be asked to provide opinions on whether any current diagnoses are related to service or caused by service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection, evaluation of his back condition, and SMC are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's death was caused by intracranial hemorrhage, and his diabetes may have contributed to the development of other health issues such as hypertension, eye disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Appellant's request to withdraw her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical records and the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any identified psychiatric disability is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral foot disability due to conflicting findings in previous examinations and new evidence presented during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus have been remanded due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports. The VA will schedule new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need to verify his reported in-service stressors. The RO must attempt to corroborate and verify the Veteran's alleged experiences, including those from 1974 at Fort Bliss, 1975/1976 in Germany during a tank qualification training course, and 1988 in Germany involving a rail head accident.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. However, the Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent prior to August 12, 2022.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol and polysubstance use disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating may be warranted due to worsening symptoms. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his PTSD with mild neurocognitive disorder, SMC at the housebound rate, and DEA benefits. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has found that the previous examinations and opinions were inadequate, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities and his other conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment based on his educational and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and a need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is also being evaluated for its potential impact on his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and PTSD have been granted service connection. The Veteran's knee DJD, left eye disorder, and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, so his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to service, including his reported in-service symptoms of daytime tiredness and frequent awakenings. The Veteran will need to provide updated VA treatment records and may be scheduled for an examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress is rated at 100 percent disabling as of August 4, 2022. The VA has remanded the issues regarding chest scar residuals for further review.