PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for psychiatric disability, right shoulder and knee disabilities, sleep apnea, hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, request VA examination reports, and adjudicate TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 23, 2018. However, the Board notes that there is no verification of his work history, so further development is needed to determine his employment status.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency (claimed as severe kidney problems) was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.,An effective date prior to January 2, 2016, is denied for all awards of service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted with a 50% rating effective January 28, 2016. The VA remanded the case to obtain updated evidence and reassess the severity of her PTSD. After an October 2019 VA examination, the AOJ increased the rating to 70% effective October 23, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia was rendered moot as it has been granted in a November 2019 decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for PTSD, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence received, issues not addressed in previous decisions, and potential need for extra-schedular analysis.

The Board has denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of stroke, PTSD, and TDIU due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, finding that new evidence supports these claims. Service connection is now established for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is either caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 1, 2007. The Board granted the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his PTSD and unspecified alcohol related disorder. His initial claim was granted in November 2017, but he seeks an earlier effective date and a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder were both denied by the Board. The denial of PTSD is based on a lack of diagnosis in accordance with DSM-5, while the denial of the increased rating is due to occupational and social impairment that does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective October 30, 2008. A TDIU rating is also granted effective that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation beginning June 27, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 18, 2013, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The decision was based on the fact that the new evidence consisted of newly added service department records and did not require the Veteran to provide sufficient information.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and heart disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 28, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions, and his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment.