PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was granted with an effective date of July 27, 2007. The original claim was filed on that day and new evidence submitted within one year of the denial led to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board has remanded other issues related to heart disease and TDIU.

The Board has remanded this case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Court found that the Board and VA examiners failed to consider the Veteran's lay assertions of military sexual trauma as well as his psychiatric symptoms during and after service.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, is granted.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective September 20, 2017. Service connection for a heart condition, peptic ulcer disease, and residuals of traumatic brain injury have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD. A new examination is needed to assess his symptoms and their impact on his daily life and work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the most probative evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service-connected tinnitus and PTSD should be remanded to allow the RO to provide a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations. The claims are now pending and need further development.

The Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease is rated at 60% from March 14, 2014 to August 17, 2015. Effective March 14, 2014, the Veteran also has a 100% rating for PTSD and additional disabilities independently rated at 60%, meeting the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dementia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic adjustment disorder.,There is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is due to an in-service traumatic event, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service. The AOJ must attempt to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD, bilateral peripheral neuropathies, erectile dysfunction, and retinopathy are remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess current effects.

The Veteran's tinnitus and vertigo are granted service connection, but his PTSD rating is remanded for further examination. His bilateral hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral lower and upper extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent from April 8, 2018 to August 20, 2019 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 70 percent since August 20, 2019 and denied for a higher rating.