PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, and low back disorder are all remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the left knee disorder claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for PTSD is denied. The Board has also remanded the case to obtain information regarding the Veteran's employment history, as part of her TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing service records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including PTSD, splenectomy residuals, and cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, neurocognitive disorder (dementia)) due to lack of evidence supporting the existence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations. The AOJ is also tasked with determining whether service connection is in effect for diabetes mellitus, scheduling an examination for erectile dysfunction, and obtaining medical nexus opinions for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, fatigue, loss of sense of taste, and loss of sense of smell.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The appeal regarding a higher rating for TBI residuals is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted in the March 2017 rating decision, and N.B. is entitled to attorney fees based on past due benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from July 5, 2011 to January 13, 2017. For the entire appeal period, his PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The decision also includes remand items for further review and evidence collection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dysthymia/depressive and anxiety disorders due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current psychiatric conditions as secondary to military sexual assault.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was dismissed because the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional treatment records and provide a medical opinion regarding the relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric disorders and active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks prior to December 20, 2012. From December 20, 2012 onwards, the impairment was reduced to no worse than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity regarding the Veteran's location at the time of a helicopter crash on the U.S.S. Peleliu in 1987, which is claimed as a stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not been manifested with or without polyps, but with greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides at any time during the appeal period.,The Veteran’s PTSD has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas during the appeal period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and obtain additional records in order to properly adjudicate his claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Veteran's back disability, psychiatric disorder including PTSD, and skin disorder are all found to have their onset in service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for periodontal disease is denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is remanded.