PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a left eye disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a lung condition is granted, and the appeal is allowed to this extent only. An initial rating of 70 percent since February 24, 2010, for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appeal for service connection on this basis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected TBI was voluntarily dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected.,An increased initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of direct service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as there was no in-service diagnosis or event linked to his current condition. For PTSD, the Board noted that while the Veteran had occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as chronic mood disturbances and sleep impairment, these were not sufficient to meet the criteria for a 70% rating under DC 9411.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD as of September 30, 2011. Effective September 30, 2013, the Veteran is also granted SMC due to her combined rating for multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder prevents her from securing and maintaining gainful employment, granting her TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, except for a brief period in 2016. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated VA and/or private treatment records, as well as a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to missing medical records and uncorroborated in-service stressors. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records, including from SSA and private providers, and to schedule a PTSD examination if corroborated stressors are found.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a right hand condition, a right hip condition, and a left hip condition. The lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions were remanded.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric condition including major depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

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 appeal to receive a higher evaluation for their PTSD was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew the issue prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016. After that date, the evidence does not show he was able to obtain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected postoperative hemorrhoids with fissures and PTSD, as he cannot secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. The remand is due to incomplete medical records and a need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD medication contributed to his death.