PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD and residuals of brain trauma with dementia are granted a total disability rating, tinnitus is granted a separate 10 percent rating, and tension headaches are noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of hysterectomy and an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to incomplete development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle disorders, bilateral knee disorders, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted since the June 2017 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The claim for reopening Major Depression was granted, but the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to address his service-connected PTSD, dysuria, and abdominal scars.

The Veteran's PTSD with UDD disability remains at a 70 percent rating, but the Board has found that his symptoms have worsened and requires further examination to assess current severity. The issue of individual unemployability is also remanded due to inextricably intertwined nature with the IR claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, somatic symptom disorder, adjustment disorder) due to the need for additional development. This includes obtaining missing treatment records from Langley AFB, verifying stressor events, and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to new VA treatment records not being considered, and the issue of PTSD service connection remains on appeal.

The claim for service connection for PTSD with Major Depression and Anxiety Disorder was reopened, but the Board has remanded the issue due to insufficient evidence. The cause of death claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD symptoms and their impact on his occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches. The Veteran's service-connected TBI and PTSD are considered, but further medical opinion is needed to clarify whether the migraines are manifestations of his TBI or secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD is remanded, as are his ratings for TBI and TDIU. The VA examinations related to these issues need to be redone.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU effective June 10, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, his scars on the lumbar spine are not compensable, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran’s degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to October 13, 2010, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since June 17, 2019. The rating is granted for the period from February 15, 2013 to June 16, 2019.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for depressive disorder. The claims for right knee, left knee, and left ankle conditions are remanded due to lack of VA treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is also remanded for additional medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Board finds that no new and material evidence was received within one year of the March 2007 rating decision, which became final. As such, the claim is not reopened.