PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding tinnitus, hearing loss, and PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to February 19, 2020 and denied any rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The remand is due to the failure to provide a VA examination and because there was no evidence of notice sent to the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discharge from service was not a statutory or regulatory bar to receiving VA benefits, and it is at least as likely as not that he was insane at the time of his misconduct.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an earlier effective date for PTSD. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, headaches, left knee disability, right knee disability, and a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 2, 2015 for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been granted and rendered moot. The claims for secondary service connection for alcohol dependence to PTSD and OSA to PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that there are still open medical questions regarding diagnosis and etiology. The appeals are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, despite the Veteran alleging military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted with a rating of 50 percent, effective January 18, 2017. The appeal for an increased rating from August 31, 2018 to February 27, 2020 is denied. The appeal for an increased rating since February 28, 2020 remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with alcohol dependence based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a March 1990 rating decision. The Board found that there was no CUE, as reasonable minds could differ on the probative value of evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her service connection claims and a separate rating for bladder impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current PTSD is as likely as not attributable to his in-service stressors events occurring between August 1982 to June 2, 1986.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is denied, and the claims for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are both denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's in-service stressor is corroborated and his report of nightmares meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-IV. The Veteran was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon during service.

The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression is dismissed. Service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder are denied. Service connection for dermatophytosis of the left foot and right foot is also denied.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as it has been granted and rendered moot. The remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Veteran is granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to September 25, 2018 due to his service-connected PTSD and opioid use disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for PTSD, residuals of a right arm fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His low back disability remains rated at 10 percent, but the appeal for an increased rating is denied. Accrued benefits are also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity experienced during his deployment in Southwest Asia, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.