PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and major depressive disorder) and a right knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information and need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric, hearing loss, tinnitus, shoulder, foot, knee, heel/ankle disabilities, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran was awarded a 70% rating for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder effective March 29, 2017.,PTSD is currently rated at 70% disabling.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bipolar/depression condition has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and consideration of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors and concluding that his current acquired psychiatric disorder did not preexist service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as it was not factually ascertainable that her service-connected disability rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation within one year prior to December 21, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, but granted service connection and assigned a rating for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no evidence of a current disability and the Veteran's symptoms were not linked to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has vacated the July 16, 2019 decision and remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions. The claims are now pending with the RO for further review.

The Veteran was found to be unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, which prevented him from performing the physical demands of his job as a corrections officer. The TDIU is granted for the period from November 8, 2011 to May 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to a TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues with the pending claim of higher staged initial ratings for PTSD. The appeal is REMANDED.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not result in total occupational and social impairment, so the claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and orthopedic conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression and PTSD is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for memory loss is denied because it is a manifestation of his service-connected PTSD with minor neurocognitive disorder and mild memory loss.

The appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for left ear hearing loss and PTSD are remanded due to worsening symptoms not currently reflected in the existing VA examinations.

The appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to August 22, 2005. The claim of a higher rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and dyshidrotic eczema of the hands. The Board dismissed these claims as withdrawn. His claim for TDIU was denied due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.