PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression and alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted. The Board also remanded the case due to issues with notification and scheduling of a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require additional medical examinations and treatment records to determine their current severity, and therefore remands these cases for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's episodes of temporary unconsciousness or paralysis are better understood as panic attacks associated with service-connected PTSD or as symptoms of a separate seizure disorder. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy had its onset as early as August 22, 2012 and granted an effective date of August 22, 2012. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missing Notice of Disagreement (NOD) submitted in December 2011, which could affect the effective date for the increased rating of PTSD.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2001 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD based on the Veteran's original claim and resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been added to the appeal and needs further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and TDIU due to unsuccessful attempts to schedule a VA examination at the Veteran's correctional facility. Further attempts are required to have him examined.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a mood disorder, which is now rated at 30 percent. The decision also grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to December 22, 2008 for his grant of service connection for PTSD. The decision stated that the additional service records confirming the Veteran’s service in Bolivia were irrelevant and did not affect the November 2014 award of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his mental health issues, including anger management problems and depression.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service stressors, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, major depressive disorder, is due to his service-connected Parkinson’s disease and secondary service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 8, 2017 for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also had his initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy denied. However, he was granted a TDIU effective from August 8, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Depression, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD in a September 2019 rating decision, and the issue is now dismissed as there are no remaining determinations to consider.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is granted, and the RO must provide an increased rating. The reduction of the PTSD evaluation from 50% to 30% was not proper.