PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cephalgia is granted, and the original rating of 30% is restored. The claims for increased evaluations for PTSD and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate those required for a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and thyroid cancer have been denied. The claim for increased rating of the residuals of surgery of the fifth metatarsal of the left foot has also been denied. The Board has remanded the issues regarding entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 27, 2018 for service connection of various conditions. The Veteran was previously denied service connection due to dishonorable discharge from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 11, 2014 for his TDIU award due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathies, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment from August 12, 2015, to February 6, 2019. As a result, the Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because he used an incorrect form to appeal a legacy rating decision, and the AMA does not apply to pre-February 19, 2019 decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective December 10, 2018. The claims for service connection of various conditions are denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not manifest during active duty service and is not otherwise attributable to such service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety state NOS, and PTSD. The evidence does not establish a verified in-service stressor or injury that could be related to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from June 28, 2011. The VA granted a TDIU rating effective from June 28, 2011 to February 11, 2019.

Your appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed because you already have a pending appeal in the legacy system. The Board believes it would be more beneficial to you to keep your current appeal, as this could potentially provide you with an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD causes nightmares that do not occur frequently, nor do they cause occupational and social impairment. The Board finds a compensable rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show any occupational or social impairment caused by the Veteran’s PTSD.,VA examinations are needed to determine if the Veteran's pancreatic cancer and rhinophyma were caused by service exposure to herbicides.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was presented to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for headaches. The claims for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder are also remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 2017. The Board denied a higher rating, finding that the Veteran’s occupational and social impairment did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 24, 2012. The rating reflects the severity of her symptoms which include suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the lack of relevant VA treatment records from Lowell Vet Center.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, left knee, right foot disabilities and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are believed to be related to in-service injuries during airborne training.