PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating for the period prior to July 6, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a scar on his abdomen is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and PTSD due to exposure to herbicides, as there are outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU from January 22, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD prior to May 24, 2013 and from that date was denied. The Board found the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating in either period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD prior to August 7, 2019 was granted with a 50 percent disability rating. The appeal for a higher rating from August 7, 2019 and the TDIU claim were both denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent effective from December 2, 2019. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he still had some occupational and social impairment but no deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and potential service connection.

The claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is dismissed.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with chronic Major Depression, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, updated examinations, and consideration of a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's claims of service connection for somatization disorder and PTSD were denied. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence showing fear of hostile military activity, but the claim remains denied as there is no established in-service stressor.

The Veteran's other specified trauma & stressor related disorder, previously rated as PTSD, is currently rated at 30 percent disabling. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed. The claims for osteoarthritis of the left and right knee, right hip strain, and a skin disability of bilateral feet are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requires additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressors. The case will be readjudicated after additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's TDIU claim due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding SMC entitlement.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to March 23, 2018 and at 70 percent from that date. His bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent prior to June 25, 2018 and at ten percent thereafter.,Both conditions have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to January 22, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.