PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of a back disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development including verification of stressors and a VA examination.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from March 1, 1989 to July 26, 1994 and denied entitlement to a TDIU for the period from March 3, 1977 to January 21, 1979 and from February 16, 1979 to July 26, 1994. The decision is binding.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, along with his PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, for the entire appeal period (excluding a temporary total evaluation from September 30, 2016 to December 31, 2016). The TDIU claim based on PTSD was denied. SMC at housebound rate was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to September 16, 2015 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of lay statements linking the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, so an initial rating higher than 70 percent is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also remanded the claims for neck condition, migraines, left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of medical nexus opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on issues related to increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 60 percent, but the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether they preclude securing and following substantial gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, as additional development is needed to obtain employment and educational information.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or a link to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an increased disability rating of 70 percent from November 21, 2014 to April 20, 2017. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and left lower extremity (femoral nerve) has also been granted effective from June 28, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, and depression are related to his combat service in the Korean War. His tonsillectomy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, due to suicidal ideation. The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD from December 22, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD and for an increased rating for PTSD. The VA examinations need to address whether OSA is related to military service or caused by PTSD, and if so, whether it is aggravated by PTSD.