PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and other conditions due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for embolism and thrombosis is denied.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis is in accordance with DSM-5 and there is credible supporting evidence of an in-service sexual assault.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a spinal tumor, as well as for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for these conditions remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including education to pursue a career as a physical therapist, is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an updated vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, chronic sinusitis, and GERD. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis does not result in any compensable residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of certain VA treatment records and an incomplete etiology opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, unspecified anxiety, and depression is now pending again.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD should be rated higher than 30 percent, but needs more evidence to make a decision. The VA is required to obtain any outstanding treatment records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar strain with osteoarthritis, and for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders prior to February 24, 2017 are rated at a 30 percent disability level.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to TDIU prior to September 20, 2016. The Veteran's combined rating was 100% before September 20, 2016, but no single service-connected disability alone renders him entitled to TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder. The VA examiner did not provide a clear diagnosis or nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other specified depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,The Veteran has been employed as a town mayor in an unpaid position, indicating that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The rating for PTSD was also denied, as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment. However, a TDIU was granted effective July 29, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA did not fully comply with its previous remand directives and has ordered another remand to ensure all relevant documents are associated, obtain an FCE, and a VRC assessment.

The claim for service connection of hypertension is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at August 16, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and potentially outstanding VA and private treatment records.