PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case to verify if the Veteran witnessed airplane crashes on the U.S.S. Midway during his service, which could support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, including PTSD, cancer of the throat, and potential Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and right and left foot disorders, back disorder, heart disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish a current disability for VA purposes for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds the examination adequate as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete SSA records and unclear use of VA Forms 21-4192 for employment information. The Veteran needs to provide complete SSA earnings records and obtain relevant employer records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, finding that it is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder NOS, including chronic intermittent cough and muscle aches, is rated at 50 percent from September 13, 2016. The rating for the condition prior to that date remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent or more for PTSD is being remanded due to deficiencies in the June 2017 VA examination. A new VA examination will be scheduled to clarify the severity of his PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of service-connected migraines and PTSD with MDD, opioid use disorder, and TBI residuals because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD, right hip degenerative changes, and right thigh muscle injury status-post shrapnel wound is remanded.

Service connection for residuals of a left foot injury is denied.,An initial rating higher than 10 percent for hypothyroidism is denied.,A rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder is denied.,An effective date prior to June 10, 2010 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), including referral for extraschedular consideration, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including MDD and PTSD, is related to his active service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to gain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 8, 2012. TDIU was granted effective that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and malaria have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since August 24, 2004.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating prior to November 5, 2015. For the entire period on appeal, he is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death and whether any exposure to herbicide agents or toxic water at Camp Lejeune caused his colorectal cancer.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from June 8, 2010 to April 11, 2012 were severe enough for a 70% rating. From April 12, 2012 onwards, the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.