PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that new evidence was submitted to reconsider the denial of PTSD service connection. The decision is remanded because VA did not obtain relevant Fort Bragg treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of Fort Bragg treatment records, which are relevant to the Veteran's PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the record.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (claimed PTSD), is granted with a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and TDIU was denied, with the effective date of service connection being July 27, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, knee, hip and foot disabilities have been dismissed due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted with an effective date of February 6, 2018.

The Veteran meets the requirements for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder and multiple peripheral neuropathies. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsened PTSD disability picture until the April 2019 VA examination, and there was no evidence supporting a finding of increased severity one year earlier.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected PTSD with MDD is being remanded due to the need for a more recent VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure has been granted. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the highest rating available under the General Rating Formula.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and MDD with anxious distress, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to report to scheduled VA examinations and lack of attempts to reschedule. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, drug abuse, low back disability, spina bifida, and a neurological disorder of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant such a rating prior to September 17, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressors, specifically witnessing his shipmate being murdered.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, headaches, OSA, and polyarthralgia and joint pain. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD or a sleep disturbance, to include depression, is denied as there is no probative evidence suggesting a connection between his active duty service and a diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU is granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.