PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various disabilities as they are not currently in a position to make decisions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating from September 17, 2007. A TDIU was also granted effective May 14, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and upper back disorder due to further development being required.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and from May 6, 2011, he has been granted a TDIU.

PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70 percent rating effective June 6, 2016.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 26, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent effective October 31, 2018. The initial increase in rating from February 25, 2015 to September 21, 2016 is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 30 percent, but his depression has been rated at 30 percent. The PTSD rating is granted, while the depression rating remains unchanged.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, increased rating claims, and effective date claims due to incomplete medical records and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from January 1, 2007 to August 26, 2009. He also receives a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD). The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to have had their onset in service or within one year of separation from service. The examiner opined that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely as not related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD). The Veteran's reported stressors, including witnessing airplane crashes, were found insufficient to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection for OAS, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD is granted. The Veteran receives a 70 percent rating for PTSD from March 19, 2018.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection and rating for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of additional VA treatment records associated with the Veteran's electronic claims folder since the March 2016 SSOC.

The Board has found that additional and relevant medical evidence was received into the record since the December 2018 Statements of the Case. As a result, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) have been dismissed due to her death during the appeal process.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current psychiatric disability is related to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.