PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for acquired psychiatric conditions and loss of sense of smell have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU due to lack of credible evidence supporting in-service stressors or a diagnosis related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on whether any service-connected disability contributed to the Veteran's death. The appellant needs a VA examiner’s opinion regarding this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 12, 2013. The effective date for this rating cannot be earlier than December 26, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to new evidence received. His bilateral hearing loss claim is reopened, but additional development is needed. The compensable rating and increased rating claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his reported symptoms during and after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision problems is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a vision disability.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy, coronary artery disease, sleep condition (likely sleep apnea), headache condition, and psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted a second clothing allowance for calendar year 2016 for the use of topical creams used to treat service-connected burns on the right and left arms and hands, finding that the cocoa butter cream causes an increased rate of damage to outer garments compared to a back brace.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD and panic disorder is found to be etiologically related to his service, and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted a 70% disability rating, effective from August 14, 2013. The remaining issues of service connection for various foot and ankle conditions, shin splints, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder were not found to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent prior to September 4, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is not considered permanent due to his service-connected PTSD and post-traumatic headaches, which are subject to future examinations. Therefore, the Veteran does not have a permanent and total service-connected disability for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, MDD, and psychosis.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as his entitlement to a TDIU. The issues have been resolved by withdrawal of appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and set an effective date of February 8, 1983. The Veteran had symptoms of PTSD prior to this claim and the records considered in the decision are relevant official service department records that existed but were not associated with the claims file when VA first decided the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's deployment to Grenada and a need for an opinion on whether his acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including any reported incidents in Grenada.