PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, but has found insufficient evidence to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted effective April 9, 1985. The previous effective date of October 7, 2005 is changed to this new effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between OSA and his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, heart condition, and arthritis. The issues of service connection for a heart condition and arthritis are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for her service-connected PTSD, finding that her symptoms did not warrant such a high rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as they were not filed on the correct form and did not meet legal requirements.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error, including the need for VA to obtain SSA records and private treatment records from September 2010 through June 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for any part of the relevant period on appeal and his disabilities were not sufficient to render him unemployable prior to July 24, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of PTSD, sleep apnea, and MDD as secondary to cervical strain due to lack of jurisdiction over these issues.

The Board denied additional attorney fees based on past-due benefits from a March 2019 rating decision and a February 2020 retroactive compensation adjustment, as the appellant did not appeal the initial fee decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety neurosis but to include PTSD. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability, finding new and relevant evidence that warrants readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the current conditions are not related to any in-service event and there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of July 14, 2017, based on his intent to file for the benefit. The decision is due to the fact that it was not ascertainable prior to this date that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically addressing a claim based on in-service personal assault. The Veteran's VA treatment records from March 2020 onwards need to be obtained and efforts should be made to corroborate his reported in-service personal assault.

The Veteran is granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with a history of alcohol use disorder, effective May 19, 2017. The case is remanded to develop his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of prostate cancer and coronary artery bypass, as well as service connection for gout, hypertension (due to service-connected coronary artery bypass), a left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Service connection for PTSD is also remanded because there has not been a proper C&P exam.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and TDIU prior to April 8, 2020 are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, the highest available for this condition. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU are being remanded due to missing VA outpatient records, and the need to consider whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.