PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, low back arthritis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 10, 2015 for service connection for CAD is denied. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for his CAD in March 2019. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for a new opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the periods from March 13, 1998 to December 31, 1999 and from July 8, 2003 to December 31, 2005 due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied. The appeal also included a request for an effective date prior to October 21, 2015, which was denied as well.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The case needs to be further developed with a supplemental VA opinion.

The Board has determined that a 70 percent evaluation is warranted for PTSD from August 5, 2014. However, the issue of whether an evaluation in excess of 70 percent is warranted would be remanded due to outstanding medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II and a TDIU was denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met, and the combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence, a hearing request, and challenges regarding the competency of an examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 29, 2021. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's resistant hypertension, a primary cause of his death, is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as the earliest permitted by law is February 25, 2013, when VA received his initial claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD related to a confirmed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously granted a 50% rating, but the Board denied an increased rating to higher than 70%. The hearing loss claim remains pending as it is rated at 0%, and no effective date adjustment was made for ischemic heart disease.,For the right knee condition, the Veteran has been granted a 10% rating. However, his claim for a higher rating remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining the curriculum vitae of the VA examiners and providing the Veteran with his own copy of the claims file.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to July 19, 2018 and a higher rating thereafter. The appeal for a TDIU is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD was aggravated by his exposure to burn pits during military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia disorder was granted a 50 percent rating prior to September 5, 2017. However, the claim for an increased rating after that date was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to procedural issues and the need for a completed VA Form 21-8940 application on behalf of the Veteran. The rating for PTSD prior to March 23, 2015 was not properly implemented.