PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Anxiety, and unspecified depressive disorder. The previous opinions were inadequate as they did not consider prior diagnoses or evidence of in-service stressors.

The appeals for increased disability rating and TDIU for PTSD have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

A rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spondylosis is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of service connection for prostate cancer is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and LLE and RLE radiculopathy are not granted due to lack of evidence or insufficient evidence.,Entitlement to TDIU is inextricably intertwined with other claims and cannot be decided at this time.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to August 13, 2019 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,From August 13, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD manifested in symptoms that warranted a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further verification of the appellant's service dates. The claim for PTSD with dysthymia remains under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in opinions regarding the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is not about exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to September 26, 2007, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not total impairment.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a right leg disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31 of the VA regulations, as she is currently employed and does not have an employment handicap.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder, finding that his service-connected PTSD is manifested by complaints of problems with anger and anxiety throughout the appeal period. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorder, cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, digestive system condition, bilateral foot condition, right shoulder condition, and right knee condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective June 24, 2011. The Veteran’s lumbar strain is granted a 40 percent disability rating, also effective June 24, 2011. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete Social Security Administration records and a need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to military sexual trauma during service, as opposed to post-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and recognition as his surviving spouse. The cause of death claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran’s dementia to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no further action is required as the merits of the appeal are moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of Social Security Administration (SSA) records related to the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's private medical records show a PTSD diagnosis in 2009 and 2010, but the VA examination did not address these prior diagnoses. The Board finds the examination inadequate for adjudication purposes and remands the case.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to its symptoms and overall impact on daily life.