PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to incomplete development of evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, and for an examination to verify in-service stressors and assess any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for low back pain and remanded the issue of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's new evidence includes private treatment records, VA treatment records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depression, are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence showed occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but without occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to June 27, 2017. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not combine to result in a combined rating of 70% or more.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective May 14, 2013. The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as 0 percent and increased to 20 percent effective October 27, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 13, 2011. The issue of a TDIU prior to September 16, 2019 is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disorder and GERD, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 12, 2018. The issue of service connection for GERD secondary to the lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, gout, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate disorder, thyroid disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and unspecified arthritis are being remanded due to additional evidence received since the August 2019 statement of the case. The AOJ will review this new evidence in its entirety before readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination to evaluate his current disability status.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating effective August 15, 2017. Prior to this date, the condition had been rated at 50 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and its relation to military sexual trauma. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if he experienced MST, and whether his PTSD is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD for further development and consideration.

The appeal for sleep apnea is dismissed. A 70% disability rating for PTSD is granted, effective July 2019. TDIU prior to July 15, 2017 is remanded. Appeals for other conditions are also remanded.

The Veteran is granted an initial 50 percent disability rating for PTSD, previously characterized as adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, effective from September 7, 2011. The rating remains at 50 percent throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to July 13, 2019. The symptoms associated with this rating include irritability or outbursts of anger, suicidal ideation, near continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a worklike setting; and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The Board granted the Veteran's TDIU claim for the period of March 17, 2014 to October 1, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right eye disability was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent, but no more, prior to January 9, 2020. His claim for higher ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and related conditions remains denied.