PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with MDD, has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims and concluded that there is sufficient credible supporting evidence to establish the in-service stressor as the proximate cause of the current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, IBS, and sleep apnea/sleep disturbance due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors and other medical findings.

The Board dismissed the appeal because no substantive appeal was filed for the increased rating claims of PTSD and back disability, and the service connection claim for sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA records related to PTSD. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA treatment records from St. Louis VAMC.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The evidence submitted since the March 2016 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred PTSD in his active service and resolves reasonable doubt in his favor. Other claims, including those related to lumbosacral strain, right shoulder strain, right ankle sprain, left foot strain, alcohol use disorder secondary to PTSD, and depressive disorder secondary to service-connected disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU due to unresolved medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the correct facts were before the RO at the time of the April 1998 rating decision, and the statutory and regulatory provisions in effect then were correctly applied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. Additional development is required, including an addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the entire appeal period. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 50%, 70%, or 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of PTSD was denied as the earliest date he expressed intent to reopen his claim is February 8, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for mandibular nerve damage was granted and assigned July 26, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service stressor involving fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not shown to be incurred in service and there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and DEA benefits is denied. The effective dates are set at January 6, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU related to PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development.