PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as due to military sexual trauma (MST) and found that the evidence is in equipoise, granting the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with features of depression, anxiety and chronic sleep impairment is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from March 5, 2013 to January 7, 2016. A TDIU rating was granted effective March 5, 2013. The claim for service connection of CML remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition. The claims for service connection for an esophageal condition, bladder condition, and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, based on a current diagnosis related to verified in-service stressors.

The reduction in the disability rating from 70 percent to a noncompensable rating for PTSD was not proper, and entitlement to restoration of the 70 percent rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 4, 2016 due to incomplete consideration of VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to sever his service connection for PTSD, finding that the original decision was based on a clear and unmistakable error in determining he had in-country Vietnam service. The current evidence does not support maintaining the original decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for psychosis, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran did not have diagnosed psychosis or PTSD during service or within two years after separation. The acquired psychiatric disorders were first diagnosed many years after service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his erectile dysfunction and a rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether sleep apnea is related to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD have been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support the presence of a current diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, and concluded that the Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's dementia is being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it was proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.,The cause of the Veteran’s death is also being remanded for an SOC addressing whether his dementia, which may be related to his PTSD, was a contributory factor in his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The VA denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 20, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The VA also denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, Major Depression, and related disabilities are granted. The claims for CFS, fibromyalgia, and a skin disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The claims include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, secondary to coronary artery disease, and a claim for an initial compensable evaluation for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent throughout the appeal period, effective from March 29, 2008. A TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions, including anemia, cirrhosis of the liver, lumbar spine condition, diabetes, duodenal malformation, esophageal condition, hypertension, psychiatric disorder (PTSD), retinopathy of the right eye, and thrombocytopenia are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is requested to provide any relevant evidence not previously submitted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to aid and attendance as a surviving spouse, finding that December 21, 2018 is the earliest date entitlement arose due to the submission of new and material evidence linking the Veteran’s death to his service-connected PTSD.