PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 11, 2019, finding that he maintained substantially gainful employment during this period and was not precluded from securing or maintaining such employment due to service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in 2003, but reopened and granted effective May 18, 2011. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the Veteran did not submit new and material evidence within one year of the original denial.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection, disability rating increase, and right elbow disability are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to military service. The claim for ischemic heart disease was also granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease was granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are related to his military service. The decision is based on new medical evidence provided by a private physician.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD is not productive of total occupational and social impairment, resulting in a denial of an initial rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection for sleep apnea cannot be established due to the absence of a diagnosis. The claim is remanded for a new opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's bilateral knee arthralgia claims are remanded for a new examination as the November 2019 VA examination was inadequate.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle arthralgia claims are also remanded for a new examination due to inconsistencies in the November 2019 VA examination report.,TDIU is remanded as the Veteran has not submitted an application for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent prior to June 1, 2019. The evidence does not demonstrate that the condition results in serious symptoms with deficiencies in most areas such as work and social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating for the entire appeal period. Service connection for prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded.

The Board has found that remand is warranted for the claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include mood disorder, major depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and events he witnessed during service are not adequately addressed in the June 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's OSA is not considered secondary to his service-connected PTSD and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence of TBI residuals at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim, nor is there evidence linking GERD to service connection.,Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is also denied as secondary to PTSD and not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether the Veteran should be granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to April 24, 2017, due to his service-connected PTSD and other mental health conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, mixed personality disorder, and persistent mood disorder due to a lack of verified in-service stressor and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD, has been granted. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and neuropathy. The case is now before the undersigned for further development.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for PTSD, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, including whether PTSD contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of such conditions during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of depression separate from his PTSD, and that the symptoms associated with his PTSD did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.