PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions related to his military service, including cancer, shoulder issues, taste loss, numbness, fatigue, psychiatric disorders, and other health concerns. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness of the face and neck. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by loss of sense of taste, including any related conditions such as burned tongue or numbness of the face and neck. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by numbness of the left side of the face, neck, and chest, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or fatigue. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by chronic fatigue, including anemia and any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for residual scars related to cancer treatment, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a disability manifested by neurological deficits, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a thyroid disorder, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disorder, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including diarrhea and constipation, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for acid reflux, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea and other manner of sleep disorders, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from July 26, 2007 to October 16, 2012. The Board finds the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions alone preclude the Veteran from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective January 12, 2016. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are due to a personality disorder and substance abuse, not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was not received by VA prior to August 18, 2014. Therefore, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of Department of Veterans (VA) compensation benefits, finding that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience due to fault on the part of the Veteran in creating the overpayment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, was rated at 50% prior to January 29, 2015. The Board granted a higher rating of 70% effective from the date of remand (January 29, 2015).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, needs further development due to incomplete medical records and the need for an opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right thumb disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to August 28, 2009 for PTSD and PFB were denied because there is no evidence of intent to reopen previously denied claims. The Veteran did not file any claims or communications regarding these conditions until after August 28, 2009.,The Veteran's appeal for effective dates prior to August 28, 2009 for a spine disability was denied because there is no evidence of intent to reopen previously denied claims. The Veteran did not file any claims or communications regarding this condition until after August 28, 2009.,The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling for PTSD was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and umbilical hernia, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, he is granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided that the VA's previous determination of not granting service connection for PTSD is incorrect and requires further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating from September 27, 2010 to October 1, 2012. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is moot as the Veteran no longer meets the criteria for TDIU due to his current service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from August 17, 2016 to November 7, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. Effective November 7, 2017, the issue of TDIU is moot as he now has a combined rating of 100%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a confirmed in-service stressor related to his Persian Gulf deployment. The Veteran's lay testimony and medical evidence confirm the occurrence of this stressor, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board dismissed the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss. The petitions to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were granted. Service connection was denied for a left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's credible account of an in-service personal assault is sufficient to establish a diagnosis and link between his current symptoms and the stressor. The Board also found support for other acquired psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected stressor related/anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) rated at 70 percent does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.