PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's reported stressors need to be verified, and he should be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders and left ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date due to new and material evidence, including VA treatment records from June 2011 to August 2013. The Veteran is required to provide releases for any care providers who may have relevant records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by liver cirrhosis, which is linked to his service-connected tinnitus and depression. The Board found that the service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and seizure disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim is deferred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss, which is remanded. The remaining conditions are now considered established as service-connected.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remand is necessary due to the lack of compliance with previous Board instructions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and otitis media have been rated at a compensable level of 10 percent. The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and alcohol use disorder, have been rated at the maximum 70 percent disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and efforts to verify in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim is being reconsidered on the merits as new service treatment records have been received.

The Veteran's IBS and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The Veteran also received a 30% disability rating for his bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, effective January 27, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD alone does not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and therefore the TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to discrepancies between the severity of his symptoms as reported in his November 2019 statement and those found at his February 2019 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, depression, or anxiety as these conditions are not shown to have begun during active service and are not related to an in-service injury or disease. The diagnoses provided by VA examiners do not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD with MDD was reduced from 70% to 0%, but the reduction was found to be improper due to a failure to follow procedural requirements, and the rating is restored.

The Veteran's PTSD conditions are now rated at 100 percent effective April 1, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, and the issues of service connection for hypertension (secondary to PTSD) and traumatic brain injury/right eye disorder have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder. Additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date remains at April 18, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including verifying service stressors and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety are on appeal.