PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded cases for service connection of various conditions claimed as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and schizophrenia, but the case is remanded to consider entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for a higher rating due to allegations of worsening since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent evaluation, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and his symptoms are related to in-service stressors. The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection decision was made.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran did not provide new and material evidence that would meet the criteria for reopening.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was granted. Evidence submitted since the July 2005 RO denial related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The examinations must be rescheduled as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran received proper notice of his scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA treatment records and conflicting medical opinions.,VA will attempt to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records and military personnel records.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating.,Right ear hearing loss was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and a sleep disorder.

The Board has denied the claim for higher ratings for PTSD twice and remanded due to inadequate explanation of VA's duty to assist in developing the claim. The Veteran’s vocational rehabilitation records have been obtained, but a further examination is required as the VA examiner did not reconcile GAF scores with clinical findings.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 18, 2011, as he has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to provide additional information about his in-service stressors and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained in order to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and alcohol dependence is not rated higher than 70 percent, while his service-connected status post total left knee arthroplasty associated with right sciatic nerve paralysis as a residual of shell fragment wound of the right thigh and right leg is also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 50 percent effective September 1, 2016. The TDIU claim is still pending as the RO has not yet considered it.

The Veteran seeks an effective date of December 14, 1996 for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to the intertwined nature with a CUE motion regarding the August 1997 rating decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board has remanded for clarification of his employment status and to obtain Vocational Rehabilitation records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, as he has engaged in work-like activities such as remodeling houses and working on construction projects alone.