PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for OSA, which is secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's medical records show he was diagnosed with OSA in 2020 and treated for it since then. However, a VA examiner found no signs or symptoms attributable to sleep apnea and no functional impairment. The Board finds this opinion inadequate due to legal errors and insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and prior examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore service connection cannot be granted for gastrointestinal, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, or TMJ.

The Veteran seeks service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and MDD. The Board has determined that remand is necessary to clarify the current diagnosis of ED and provide a more definitive opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's competency is restored, he is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, and his rating for migraines is increased to 60 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating prior to September 25, 2018. This decision grants the higher rating and acknowledges that his symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, as he is able to perform most of his daily activities independently.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective June 26, 2020. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral eye disability and migraine headaches secondary to low back disability are denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 10, 2019 for the increased rating and TDIU awards due to continuous pursuit of claims since January 10, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, and as a result, his dependent spouse K.K. was recognized by VA effective July 24, 2024. The appeal is dismissed because the issue of adding K.K. to the Veteran's award has been resolved.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder (in sustained remission), is rated at a 100 percent disability rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was dismissed as the AOJ did not address this issue in any prior decisions.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot pes planus with hallux valgus is denied due to lack of evidence showing severe flatfoot or severe hallux valgus.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The TDIU claim from June 9, 2020, was granted.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance (SMC(l)) due to his service-connected disabilities. However, he is denied special monthly compensation based on housebound status (SMC(s)).

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 3, 2022. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the adjudication of his claims related to CUE and an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-5.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 25, 2021 for the awards of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits based on permanent and total disability status.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 14, 2017 to March 4, 2019. TDIU was granted for this period.