PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of records and failure to notify the Veteran and his attorney about the inability to obtain certain documents. The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric conditions is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was manifested by symptoms that more closely approximated functional impairment comparable to no worse than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. As such, the Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined resulted in debilitating effects that rendered him less capable of resisting heart disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic neck pain, erectile dysfunction, and an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The appeals were remanded for other issues.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 70% due to service-connected conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address pertinent service treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and PTSD, are being reviewed for a determination of their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder is remanded as the evidence does not include sufficient information to determine whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation based on the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD due to military sexual trauma should be remanded as there is disagreement over whether the alleged assault constitutes a traumatic event.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a heart disorder has been granted. However, the new evidence does not establish that his current heart condition is related to service or exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely encompassing PTSD and Depression) was denied as there is no probative medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her lower back disability and PTSD, as well as her claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide updated employment history information, and she will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the severity of her lower back disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been granted. The Board has also remanded the case for further development and examination regarding his bronchial asthma and PTSD claims.

The Veteran's low back disability, including myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, has been rated at 20 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or nearly approach criteria for ankylosis or limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence symptoms rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis has affected less than 5 percent of his entire body and exposed areas, requiring no more than topical therapy throughout the appeal period. The claim for a compensable rating is denied.,The claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD are remanded due to new evidence not having been considered in the most recent decision.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, and he was granted service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's schizophrenia has been rated at 100 percent since February 21, 2006. The earlier effective date of February 21, 2006 for the award of a 100 percent rating is also granted.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU from February 21, 2006 to February 16, 2012 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for schizophrenia.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent, as they result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, and hearing loss) render him unemployable, leading to a grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the Board found that his PTSD did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient information regarding his employment history.