PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from congestive heart failure.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 6, 1980 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms were present at the time of his original claim and later confirmed by medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are granted a rating of 100 percent effective from March 29, 2012. The cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions remain at their current ratings.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and a VA opinion regarding the Veteran's RA. The appeals for PTSD, RA, DM, SAH, and SHA are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart condition, frostbite of the left foot, frostbite of the right foot, and a left knee disorder were denied. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence showing possible connections to in-service incidents.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD is denied as there was no prior claim or intent to file a claim before October 23, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable rating schedules, except for one claim which was remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or status post left tibia stress fracture aggravated her obesity, which in turn caused or substantially contributed to her obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and adjustment like disorders due to lack of a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking current psychiatric conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder. The issue of a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and the TDIU claim are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% evaluation, effective October 11, 2019. The other conditions were denied increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant because his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The decision is pending further review.

The Board has granted a 70% rating for PTSD effective January 1, 2016. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since November 27, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD/Bipolar Disorder is rated at 50 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed as a matter of law. The Board found that the October 2019 rating decision did not constitute a final decision by the agency and thus, the appeal must be dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible supporting evidence that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, as the Board finds it at least as likely as not that his current symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for erectile dysfunction and lung disability are also remanded due to a lack of recent VA treatment records.