PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, manic-depressive disorder, and major depressive disorder, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as there was no corroborated in-service stressor and no other evidence linking a current condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ADD, PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, primary insomnia, left knee strain, left shin splint, right knee strain, and right shin splint are all denied. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand. The claim for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% rating due to total occupational and social impairment during the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression (claimed as adjustment disorder), insomnia, and sleep disorder is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for migraine headaches was granted with an effective date of October 10, 2017.,Special monthly compensation based on housebound in fact due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2013 rating decision was granted with an effective date of June 27, 2012.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of exposure to noise during service. The rating for hemorrhoids is increased to 10 percent, effective from February 18, 2019. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, cervical spine disability, left foot disability, and other service-connected conditions are all rated at the highest possible level (70%), but his claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndromes, and elbow/thumb disabilities have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and malaria do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as he has the capacity to work in a reduced role.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD, as his symptoms align with combat-related stressors and there is no clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there was no confirmed stressor event in service and the onset of his anxiety disorder occurred many years after service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case must be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his disability was evaluated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the aggravation of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus by active service. The Board finds that a new VA examination and medical opinion are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include depressive disorder due to in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim is now pending before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, reopening of diabetes mellitus type II claim, and bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy.