PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion to clarify the Veteran's diagnoses and attribute psychiatric symptoms to specific conditions. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to June 13, 2014 are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is currently working part-time and his employment does not qualify as a sheltered work environment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted as service connection due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a hand condition, skin cancers, and a lung condition. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was also denied.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran did not provide credible supporting evidence that his claimed stressors actually occurred.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder, NOS have been rated at 70 percent since November 25, 2008. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they primarily include nightmares, avoidance tendencies, mood swings, anger outbursts, impaired impulse control, hypervigilance, chronic sleep impairment, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and did not address his claim for a TDIU for the period prior to October 13, 2017. The motion argues that the decision should have addressed the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The VA is required to obtain a new opinion from a nephrologist or other appropriate specialist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a stomach and bladder disability, both claimed as secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The Veteran will need further medical examinations to determine if these disabilities are related to her service or aggravated by her PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70% since June 2017. The Board has now granted a 100% rating for the entire period on appeal, finding that the Veteran’s symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a nexus between the Veteran's hypertension and her service-connected psychiatric disability. The claims for bilateral foot condition, low back condition, cervical spine condition (right side of neck), right arm condition, and right shoulder condition are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective September 22, 2015. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion considering articles that suggest a relationship between PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations for various conditions are remanded due to need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted initial ratings, but his request for a higher rating for PTSD has been denied. His claim for an increased rating for diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities (left and right) is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from a Vet Center, and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's acquired psychological disorders.