PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his in-service stressor of experiencing physical and verbal abuse during 'blanket parties' in basic training. After resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is now rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD is likely a contributing factor to his development of OSA, and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as he is still capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressed mood and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as his disabilities prevent him from performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and unspecified mood disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his active duty or National Guard service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than panic disorder, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder; service connection for hypothyroidism; and increased rating for residuals of right thumb fracture due to duty-to-assist errors. A VA examination is required for all issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a total disability rating since October 30, 2021, due to the severity of his symptoms and inability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, right foot post operative residuals bunionectomy, and hypertension are being remanded due to the failure to obtain all relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that no single service-connected disability other than PTSD with unspecified dissociative disorder alone precludes the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU based on a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to a duty to assist error and potential extraschedular consideration.

The Board has accepted the September 8, 2020 NODs as timely filed for the November 25, 2014, August 8, 2017, and May 14, 2018 rating decisions. The issues of increased ratings for headaches and a psychiatric disability, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). The Veteran's OSA is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD with alcohol use disorder and orthopedic disabilities. Obesity caused by these conditions may have contributed to OSA.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an increased rating for PTSD during a hearing, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The Veteran also has been granted TDIU due to service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.