PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar II disorder, was granted. The claims for increased ratings of the right shoulder and back disabilities, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, but remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if a secondary service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and muscle injuries have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are denied an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, anxiety, and PTSD, finding that his current symptoms were not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% throughout the appeal period, and he was granted a 100% rating for his service-connected PTSD. The initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied. Service connection for gastrointestinal disability secondary to PTSD has been remanded. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed as moot.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes is remanded.,Service connection for a dental disorder for treatment purposes is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the omission of his right foot sesamoiditis from the rating decision. Additional development is needed to assess its impact on his employment capacity before a final determination can be made.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent prior to December 27, 2019. From that date, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of records, including federal disability retirement records. The VA must obtain these records and provide a new examination to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of whether the character of the appellant's discharge from service constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining personnel records and a mental health examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and service connection for sleep disturbance as secondary to a lumbar spine disability. The Board found that the current PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and determined that the chronic sleep impairment was subsumed under the PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to August 2, 2015 and at 70% beginning from that date. The effective date for the increased rating of 70% is set as of August 2, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for right-ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder) based on in-service noise exposure and reported combat experiences.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and because of his heightened risk of illness and severe hearing loss during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The case will be returned for another medical opinion on the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders.