PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the Veteran not timely initiating an appeal with respect to the June 2014 denial of these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent throughout the entire period of the claim, and his symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for waiver of overpayment is remanded due to the inextricability with another appeal. The AOJ should complete development and adjudication of related issues before deciding this case.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for PTSD, termination of TDIU, DEA termination, and NSC pension termination are remanded due to potential fraud investigation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and denied the claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated a 70 percent rating, resulting in occupational impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder. The VA needs to provide a new opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. However, the issue of secondary service connection for a right knee condition is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU from February 21, 2017 due to insufficient discussion of relevant evidence and failure to consider initial effective dates. The case is returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to April 9, 2019 and 70 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is still necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent evaluation effective December 19, 2019. Prior to that date, the Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD but not assigned any disability rating.

The Board has denied a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his symptoms do not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher, prior to July 2, 2019. Parkinson's disease service connection is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating of PTSD, so the claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's forehead scar and PTSD have been granted service connection, with a 50% rating for PTSD effective May 1, 2014. The Veteran has also been awarded TDIU since that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms and overall functioning.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address service personnel records that may corroborate claimed stressors. Further development is needed, including a VA psychiatric examination using DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as a result of events he experienced in service, and the Board finds that his lay testimony alone may establish the occurrence of his claimed stressor related to combat.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and ratings related to hearing loss, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease with stable angina, and PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the appellant before a decision could be made.