PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development due to missing treatment records and incomplete employment information.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a TDIU from January 1, 2018. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a urinary disorder is denied.,Service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety has been expanded to include all psychiatric disabilities diagnosed. The claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities are remanded due to incomplete records and need for an examination.,Service connection for right hip DJD, left hip DJD, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, right ankle DJD, left ankle DJD, right foot DJD, and left foot DJD is remanded as secondary to a low back disability. Service connection for right shoulder DJD, left shoulder DJD, right hand disability, and left hand disability is also remanded as secondary to a cervical spine disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinion. Service connection for skin disabilities is remanded due to incomplete records of private treatment.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU rating is inextricably intertwined with the other claims and must be deferred.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychotic disorder. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, and the VA examiner found no link between any current psychiatric condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of PTSD was dismissed due to his death, as the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was granted a 20% rating effective March 23, 2017. The Veteran's PTSD is denied for an initial rating in excess of 70%. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. Service connection for right ankle condition, right knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, left shoulder condition, and back disability are also granted. However, service connection for bilateral foot condition, sciatic nerve pain, and TDIU remains remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective March 31, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD renders him unemployable due to service-connected disability, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The claims include psychiatric disorders, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral shoulder conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the issues regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 50% disability rating for PTSD, effective August 9, 2016, as there is no evidence of material improvement in his condition that would warrant a reduction.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to September 13, 2014 for PTSD with nicotine and alcohol dependency in remission is denied. The claim for TDIU prior to September 13, 2014 is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, specifically his degenerative changes of the left knee, mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, and PTSD. The issues include seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and new evidence added since the last statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, PTSD, and depression due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.