PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, TBI, and PTSD, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies such as near continuous panic affecting the ability to function independently. The VA granted a 70 percent rating for this condition from June 28, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's death was related to his service, specifically his presumed herbicide exposure and side effects of medications for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were characterized by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are now service connected. The TDIU claim is not ripe for adjudication as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 12, 2012, for service connection of PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's initial disability rating for PTSD prior to June 2, 2016, was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD beginning on June 2, 2016, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD as secondary to prostate cancer was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and that his other diagnosed conditions (major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood) were not related to active duty service or to any service-connected disability. His claim for TDIU was also denied due to the lack of sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and other disabilities. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on these issues because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea or whether it is related to any service-connected disability. Additionally, he needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records should be obtained as they may contain relevant information about his SSA disability claim. The Veteran also needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and carcinoma of the left larynx, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his in-service assault.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities. The current rating for PTSD remains denied.

The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee disability is granted, and the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment since the effective date of service connection, leading to a 100% disability rating for PTSD prior to March 19, 2019.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from April 10, 2018 to September 23, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and diabetes mellitus type II. The evidence submitted since June 2015 did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically his claimed PTSD and schizoaffective disorder. The VA is required to provide an adequate examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the cause of the Veteran's death is related to his service, specifically PTSD. However, due to insufficient evidence on whether PTSD was caused by his military service in Vietnam, the case is being sent back for further investigation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder with memory loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU prior to March 11, 2019 are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.