PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial evaluation for PTSD is denied, but an initial evaluation of 30 percent, but not in excess thereof, for COPD is granted.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective November 14, 2008 due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in more than occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a rating higher than the current 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder and depression. The Veteran's heart condition is remanded for further examination to determine if it is a congenital defect or disease and whether any superimposed diseases or injuries occurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and antisocial personality disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 4, 2010, and the effective date for his TDIU is set at that time.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from October 30, 2013, to April 16, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities. Service connection is denied for residuals of a left forearm injury.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided is inadequate and requires additional clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. Additionally, new evidence submitted by the Veteran after a Substantive Appeal filed on or after February 2, 2013, must be reviewed by the AOJ before being considered by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asthma, seizure disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, conversion disorder) due to incomplete records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no evidence showing that his current conditions were caused by events during active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus alone did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 5, 2017 and from March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating or TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between any of his service-connected conditions and his death. The Board also found that none of his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 29, 2007. The Board granted a 100 percent rating effective from that date, finding the symptoms approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD with anxiety. The TDIU claim is also being deferred until the service connection issue is resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an erectile dysfunction disability is granted, and his PTSD disability is rated at 70 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, or a link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD claim requires further examination and development, while his TDIU claim is intertwined with the PTSD claim. Both claims are being remanded.