PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted an effective date of March 11, 2011 for the service connection of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on new evidence received after a previous denial in June 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bipolar disorder, and sleep apnea prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depression are granted a 100 percent rating, effective from the date of her claim. The issue of finding TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the already assigned 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with alcohol abuse is denied. The claim of service connection for hepatitis B is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, denied service connection for heart disability and bilateral hearing loss, and granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD. The appeal is dismissed as there was no justiciable case or controversy.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded it for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, claimed as due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST), is being remanded because the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination and her treatment records have not been obtained. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

All claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues on appeal except for his claims for an increased rating for headaches and a TDIU.,For the entire appeal period from July 29, 2013 to present, a rating of 50 percent has been granted for service-connected headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The remand requires additional opinions from VA examiners to address the etiology of these conditions, particularly regarding hypertension and its relation to diabetes.

The Veteran's PTSD and TDIU claims are granted. The claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating for PTSD was granted at 50 percent effective from February 3, 2010, until September 3, 2014. The appeal of service connection for PTSD in excess of 50 percent prior to February 26, 2019 is dismissed due to mootness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified trauma disorders, is remanded due to duty to assist errors prior to the September 2019 rating decision. The Board requests a VA addendum opinion regarding the diagnosis of any diagnosed psychiatric disability during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service-connected PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at March 14, 2019.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent from January 7, 2008. He also received a TDIU based on PTSD and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in November 2007, but he filed a notice of intent to file a claim on January 29, 2019. The RO granted service connection for PTSD effective August 19, 2019, based on the Veteran's supplemental claim and supporting medical evidence. The Board denied an earlier effective date as there was no prior unadjudicated claim before March 24, 2015.

The Board has determined that the reduction in VA disability compensation for the recouping of 64 days of military drill pay for FY 2018 was improper and granted the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and bilateral foot disability, as well as service connection for various conditions, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD or bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's other specified bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD are granted service connection. A higher rating of 70 percent is granted for PTSD. Service connection for COPD, asthma, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and right arm disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his painful surgical scar of the right groin, residual inguinal hernia repair is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his right groin, residual inguinal hernia repair is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.,The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is remanded.,The Veteran's separate rating claim for chronic pain syndrome is remanded.