PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly pension based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to an inadequate medical opinion in the previous VA examination. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back condition and psychiatric disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed mental health disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The Board found that there was no medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to January 15, 2016 and granted a TDIU after that date. The appeal is resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran's initial rating for neurogenic bladder is denied, but a higher rating of 60% is granted effective March 26, 2020. The claim for PTSD is reopened and the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee, right knee, and sleep apnea disabilities is dismissed. A 50 percent rating is granted for PTSD from June 6, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder was initially rated at 30% prior to March 30, 2015. From that date onwards, he is now rated at 70%. The issue of TDIU remains on appeal as part of the initial rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating throughout the period of the claim, with occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD because the new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, specifically a causal relationship between the current PTSD and a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's initial 10% rating for PTSD prior to January 7, 2014 has been increased to 50%. Since January 7, 2014, the Veteran is entitled to a 50% disability rating for his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to determine if any of the claimed stressors are adequate to support diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety disorder, or adjustment disorder. The examiner must also opine on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was rated at 30 percent for the period from September 4, 2012 to January 28, 2019. The rating was then increased to 50 percent effective April 1, 2019, but reduced back down to 30 percent for a portion of that period.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and joint pain was denied. The appeal for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to manage his daily activities independently.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and exposure. The AOJ is instructed to investigate potential herbicide agent exposure, obtain an addendum opinion from a VA psychologist on PTSD, arrange for a VA examination to determine if CAD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and GERD are related to service or any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 30 percent from April 29, 2014 to December 23, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 30 percent. From December 23, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD disability remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased disability evaluations and service connection. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate his shoulder and back disabilities, as well as a PTSD examination and an evaluation of his claimed tremors.