PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability, back disability, left hip disability, and headaches has been dismissed. The claims for reopening of service connection for a back disability, left hip disability, and headaches have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, back disability, left hip disability, and headaches remains pending with the Board.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent since September 17, 2012.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 50 percent rating and is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran was granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD beginning February 5, 2019, and the claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD prior to June 2, 2021, was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's appeal is now pending before the RO again.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD due to the need for a contemporaneous examination given the passage of time since his last evaluation.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claim was not reopened until February 18, 2016 and thus the earliest possible effective date is February 18, 2010.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, other specified trauma and stress related disorder, and adjustment disorder is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout is also reopened. However, the Board has found that there is no current low back disability and thus denied the claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period, leading to a TDIU. Effective January 26, 2010, he is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his experiences in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to a lack of diagnosis. A remand is ordered as new evidence and an updated VA examination have provided sufficient information to reconsider the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including STRs and private treatment records. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his in-service injury or disease and is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease.,The Board also denied service connection for a right knee disability, concluding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in the current condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a PTSD examination, an examination of right finger disabilities, and updated employment information.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but has remanded these issues due to new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective August 15, 2012.,Service connection for left foot arthritis is granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his dysthymic disorder with PTSD, left ankle disability, and lumbosacral spine disability was denied. The decision also granted a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, residuals of skin cancer, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for his increased rating claim and earlier effective date claims. The Board finds that a Remand is necessary to further develop the service connection claims on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded due to missing VA treatment records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 70 percent since September 17, 2015 and continues to be rated at 70 percent from April 1, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of this period.