PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her educational and occupational background prior to April 16, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and chronic anxiety due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2009, through April 5, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his PTSD did not contribute to his death and that another significant condition (hypertensive heart disease) was the primary cause. The appeal is dismissed as it does not involve a claim related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or the PACT Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and denied his application for VA survivor's pension due to insufficient evidence showing a causal link between his service-connected conditions and his death, as well as his income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, kidney condition, headache disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and sleep apnea due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Further development is needed to verify if herbicide agents were used at Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center while the Veteran was stationed there from February 1969 to December 1969.

The Veteran's PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia have been rated at 50% prior to June 11, 2021, and increased to 70% thereafter. The claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. A TDIU determination has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service. The VA is requested to provide a further opinion from a psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea and its aggravation by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms and overall impairment have more nearly approximated reduced reliability and productivity, but not deficiencies in most areas. The claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The current VA examination did not consider all relevant evidence of record and provided mixed conclusions.

The Veteran's TBI residuals prior to March 20, 2020 were only rated for tinnitus and headaches. From March 20, 2020 to February 8, 2022, he was granted a separate noncompensable evaluation for his TBI residuals. Since February 8, 2022, the Veteran is entitled to a separate 40 percent evaluation for his TBI. The PTSD disability remains at 70 percent from March 20, 2020 to March 8, 2021 and was remanded for further review.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD from August 31, 2016, effective as of that date. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for PTSD and service connection for Major Depressive Disorder are being remanded due to the need for clarification of his diagnoses and additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, a neck condition, and headaches will be addressed on remand.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30% and 50%. The Board has determined that a TDIU on an extraschedular basis may be warranted due to the severity of his PTSD, but needs further evidence from VA and private sources. The matter is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied, as his PTSD does not result in total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected PTSD was granted.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues include PTSD, depression, low back disability, left knee disability, polymyalgia, DVT of the legs, pulmonary embolism, and hernia.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 26, 2017 was rated at 30 percent and from that date up to the present is rated at 50 percent. Both ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and increased rating for various conditions, as well as the issue of whether the appellant's bad conduct discharge is a bar to VA benefits. The character of discharge issue must be addressed first.