PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's PTSD and post-traumatic migraine headaches, as well as a comprehensive assessment of his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to January 28, 2014 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 28, 2014 is not warranted, but granted a 30 percent rating from January 28, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied. The Board finds that the stressor event could not be corroborated, and thus there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service stressor and the current diagnosis of PTSD. The claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on several service connection and rating issues, including those related to his lumbar spine disability, GERD, right ulnar nerve disability, sleep apnea, pulmonary disorder, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder have been reopened, but the merits of these claims are still pending. The Board has ordered new VA examinations to address the Veteran's assertions regarding in-service noise exposure and effectiveness of available hearing protection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

The appeal to establish service connection for anemia is dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, PTSD, and unspecified anxiety disorder are granted. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and unspecified anxiety disorder are granted; however, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and secondary service connection for fibroid tumors/hysterectomy to an acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and inadequate opinions in her VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate statement of reasons or bases in the September 2017 decision, and because additional development is necessary to comply with the terms of the Court's June 2019 Memorandum Decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder with adjustment disorder and alcohol use disorder were previously rated at 30 percent prior to September 14, 2019. From that date, the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of current diagnosis and uncorroborated in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including evaluations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded to consider additional factors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was granted but at a 50% rating. The appeal is remanded to issue an SOC on the increased rating issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of medical opinions regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The issues include entitlement to DIC based on service connection, duty to assist in development before rendering a decision in an SOC, and whether alcohol abuse was related to psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression with anxious distress. The decision also mentions a claim for secondary service connection related to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.