PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, not to include PTSD. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran is granted an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD from July 10, 2014 to December 1, 2014. A higher rating greater than 50 percent is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was also granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and radiation poisoning must be remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is related to military sexual trauma he experienced during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD due to MST, and depressive disorder was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and insomnia) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the previous decisions and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to failure to comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran was not afforded VA examinations as requested in the May 2019 Board remand.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety disorder), and bilateral knee pain were all granted service connection. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service due to a lack of evidence of hearing impairment or ringing in the ears during service and no significant permanent shift in hearing thresholds greater than normal measurement variability from entrance to separation.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), as there was no objective evidence that the Veteran experienced significant distress while in service, and his current diagnosis does not meet DSM criteria related to military service. The Board found that the Veteran's sleep impairment is less likely than not caused by or related to his time in service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The depression component remains unknown as it does not affect the current rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its March 2018 decision, which denied a higher initial disability rating for the acquired psychiatric disability from February 6, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches is dismissed as the claim has already been granted. The appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment prior to February 25, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating effective October 6, 2016. He was granted TDIU as of that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to incomplete records and further investigation is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new PTSD examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the PTSD evaluation.