PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including his conceded stressor.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety.,Secondary service connection was granted for the Veteran's left knee disability as it is related to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent from February 11, 2009 to July 30, 2012 and at 70 percent beginning July 30, 2012. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate etiology opinions for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The case will be returned after further development.

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD with depressive symptoms is related to her in-service military sexual trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since June 8, 2016. The Board has determined that the criteria for TDIU were met during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder with sleep impairment (now claimed as depression and previously claimed as PTSD) aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he has maintained active community involvement and his other service-connected disabilities do not significantly impact his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from January 1, 2015 is denied as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective June 1, 2015. Prior to that date, the evidence does not show he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to January 3, 2020 and denied a higher rating.,Since January 3, 2020, the Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial 50 percent rating, effective May 15, 2013. The decision is based on the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and difficulty in maintaining social relationships.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating for PTSD is remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The issues are being returned for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's private treatment facility.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has found that additional development is needed due to the complexity of the issues and potential overlap between some of them.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a back disorder, but both cases are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have included depression, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, panic attacks, mild memory loss, and suicidal ideation. These symptoms are of the type and extent that are indicative of no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The right and left knee disabilities are denied increased ratings.