PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressors during service. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 7, 2016 did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran’s lumbar arthritis has not resulted in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the increased rating for PTSD and TDIU claims due to new evidence added to the record.

For the period prior to May 12, 2017, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated as noncompensable. From May 12, 2017 onwards, a 10 percent rating is granted.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent evaluation and requires further examination to determine if it warrants an increase in the future.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, adjustment and anxiety disorders based on the Veteran's credible statements about an in-service search and rescue mission involving frozen individuals. The Board found that his current psychiatric conditions are related to this event.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are at least as likely as not related to a credible in-service stressor. The other issues on appeal remain pending and require additional development.

Right shoulder strain has been granted service connection.,PTSD was initially rated at 70% prior to May 19, 2015, and upgraded to 100% thereafter.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective October 5, 2015. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's PTSD and mood disorder were also not granted an initial rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective March 9, 2016 to January 7, 2020. He also received a TDIU effective March 9, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to January 16, 2020 and at 70 percent beginning from that date.,Service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD is denied.,PTSD alone does not cause sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including mood disorder and PTSD, is granted as service connected due to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social and occupational impairment. The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the entire period of appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability. Service connection for OSA and PTSD have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to May 28, 2019.,For the period from May 28, 2019, the Veteran’s schizoaffective disorder with PTSD did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD, PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the entire appeal period prior to December 19, 2013. As a result, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 10 percent disability evaluation since February 20, 2014. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease are related to an in-service back injury, resulting in service connection.,Fecal incontinence is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and/or residuals of prostate adenocarcinoma, leading to service connection.,There is no current diagnosis of a cognitive disorder (claimed as memory loss) separate from his service-connected major depressive disorder. Service connection for this condition is denied.,PTSD was not diagnosed based on the Veteran's reported stressors and symptoms did not meet DSM-5 criteria, resulting in denial of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, will be evaluated based on available evidence.