PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent. His ossification of the right ankle and laceration scar of the right foot claims were also denied, but his heart disability and left knee disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to new symptoms of hallucinations and neglect of personal hygiene, which were not previously documented in the May 2016 C&P Examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, and alcohol dependence render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected psychoneurosis, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD were denied. Service connection was also denied for hypertension, a heart condition, and residuals of a stroke due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or other stress-induced disorders. The AOJ is required to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine if any such disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for initial consideration by the AOJ of additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and whether a superimposed disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed.,A TDIU rating from June 29, 2017 to the present has been granted based on service-connected PTSD.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was granted from January 15, 2019, but no earlier, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded his PTSD claim. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The appeal of the TDIU issue was granted, while the appeals for increased rating for PTSD and service connection for tinnitus were denied due to untimely filing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, due to a lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed stressor. The Veteran was diagnosed with depressive symptoms during her active duty but these were found to be related to substance abuse rather than military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, nonpenetrating muscle injury of the chest due to a GSW, and left chest scar due to a GSW are all granted. The initial rating for PTSD is set at 70 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examination, requiring further development.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was granted with an effective date of April 30, 2012. The Board found that the formal claim for this condition was filed on April 30, 2012.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has PTSD related to his combat experience in Vietnam, and therefore service connection for PTSD is granted.