PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, but no more, during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and headaches have been granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss claim is denied. The Veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine remains at a 40% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and failure to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected and his PTSD is rated at 70 percent throughout the period of the claim. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for larynx disorder, finding no direct or secondary relationship to active service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety) was also denied.,There is no evidence of a direct causal relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's anxiety disorder unspecified and whether he has a separate diagnosis of PTSD. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection have not been properly adjudicated and requires further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective October 24, 2018. His bilateral hearing loss disability remains noncompensable prior to that date and was granted a 10% rating beginning October 24, 2018.,The Board has remanded the issue of assigning an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol and cannabis use disorders, is currently rated at 70 percent prior to January 26, 2017, and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied. The Veteran also received a TDIU since his last day of gainful employment on August 1, 2015.

The Board has denied DIC benefits due to the Veteran not meeting the criteria for a disability rated totally disabling for 10 or more years immediately preceding death. The cause of death is remanded as an addendum opinion from a clinician is needed regarding whether any service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as the increase in disability occurred more than one year prior to the date of his claim, and thus an effective date earlier than November 7, 2011 is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been granted. The housebound claim is moot as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD has caused total occupational and social impairment prior to February 15, 2018, with symptoms including violent outbursts towards others and multiple suicide attempts.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a higher 70 percent rating prior to May 20, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran had symptoms causing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he did not perfect an appeal to the Board in the modernized system after opting into the Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection is granted for coronary heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection is denied for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's dementia, hypertension, heart attack (stroke), peripheral vascular disease, erectile dysfunction, and kidney renal insufficiency are remanded for further analysis regarding their relationship to his period of service or service-connected conditions.,Accrued benefits for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that there is an adequate legal basis to reopen the claim based on existing evidence of record. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD in May 2018 by a VA examiner who accepted his reported stressors as credible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 18, 2012 for TDIU and DEA benefits due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being referred to VA’s Director of Compensation for consideration of whether a TDIU should be granted on an extra-schedular basis prior to that date.