PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to additional development being necessary. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as secondary to a service-connected anxiety disorder with depression, and denied the remaining claims on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and left foot disability are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 100 percent prior to February 5, 2016. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to that date is being remanded. For the period prior to September 26, 2019, the Veteran's left foot disability is rated at 20 percent. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left foot disability prior to September 26, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining complete service treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and providing a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his lumbar spine disabilities and any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD. Additionally, he needs to be examined to assess the current severity of his service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the right long finger.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder has been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD with depression and anxiety is being remanded due to new evidence.,Higher disability ratings are not warranted for any of these conditions based on current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression, as well as her gastrointestinal disability (IBS). The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine these issues.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no verified in-service stressor. The right shoulder disability claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability secondary to the service-connected right knee disability was granted.,PTSD was not established based on the lack of verified in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a 100 percent disability rating, effective October 22, 2015. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to July 18, 2019 and after that date are both rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and OSA due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and inadequate VA examination regarding the etiology of his sleep disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, diabetes mellitus type II, a heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and bilateral upper extremities due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims were based on presumptive service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues except the appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board dismissed the remaining appeals.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 22, 2007. The claims for tinnitus and dizziness/vertigo including Meniere's disease, as well as the increased rating for left shoulder disability, are being remanded due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but not higher, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence supporting a link between her claimed in-service stressor and her current symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for prostate disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left leg arthritis, and residuals of an ischemic stroke as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted the cost of veterinary care for the Veteran's therapy animals as a medical expense for nonservice-connected pension purposes prior to January 9, 2017. From January 9, 2017, the appeal is dismissed because the service-connected compensation provides a greater benefit.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, specifically Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating, but the claims for diabetes with peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and COPD were denied.