PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim for additional evidentiary development, specifically to obtain treatment records from the Vet Center in Corpus Christi and VA treatment records from October 2019 to the present.

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

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and to obtain records related to the Veteran's participation in vocational rehabilitation programs. The claims of service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to PTSD or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from the entire appeal period. The right shoulder disability is granted an initial 20 percent rating from June 25, 2011 and denied any higher ratings thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to re-open her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST. The case is remanded for further development and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a kidney condition, to include as secondary to hypertension, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for PTSD and TBI have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD was denied, and the effective date for the current 100% rating is set at February 18, 2015. Service connection for a neurological disability due to herbicide exposure was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist fracture residuals is dismissed. The Board has remanded issues related to PTSD, acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, PTD, and bilateral pes planus.

Service connection granted for psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and gastrointestinal disorders. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal as to all issues except for the acquired psychiatric disorder, which was remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10% for the entire period on appeal, with a separate rating of 10% for instability. His left knee disability was rated as 10% prior to May 15, 2017 and 10% from May 15, 2017 onward. The Veteran's PTSD is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD has been remanded due to new evidence and arguments submitted by the Veteran since the April 2018 decision. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ before the Board issues its final decision.

All previously denied claims for service connection have been dismissed.,A noncompensable rating has been granted for bilateral ankle sprains since June 3, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder), right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right foot degenerative joint disease, and hypertension.,The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure for hearing loss or Agent Orange exposure for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records did not document Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with the duty to assist and because of the inextricability between the psychiatric disability claim and the coronary artery disease claim.

The Veteran's MDD and PTSD have been rated at 50 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board has now granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent).,The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from October 17, 2008, through February 7, 2016.