PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Additional evidence will be obtained and a new medical opinion will be requested.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, is denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and that his currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand are necessary due to the need for updated VA examinations, as well as for obtaining private medical records related to his PTSD and chronic headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded the presumption of soundness due to his mental health issues prior to enlistment. However, VA has not met its burden of proving by clear and unmistakable evidence that bipolar disorder pre-existed service. The Board finds a new VA medical opinion is needed to address the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired mental health disability, to include bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and lack of adequate reasons for denying higher ratings for PTSD. The Veteran's sleep disorder claim is also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to a lack of current diagnoses that meet DSM-V criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service stressors and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected. The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, panic disorder, alcohol abuse, and cocaine abuse prior to March 4, 2017, as the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 6, 2013.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for hypertension, to include as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and liver condition remains pending.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted a rating of 10% from April 1, 2013 to August 20, 2014. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD was denied. For the period prior to October 17, 2019, the rating assigned was 50 percent and for the period from October 17, 2019 onwards, it was 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cervical strain, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service due to head injuries sustained during his time in service.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 8, 2009. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to military service. The Veteran's personnel records show he served in Iraq from April 2002 to September 2002.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 70% for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2016 VA psychiatric examination and the need for a new evaluation.

Service connection for TBI and left shoulder condition is restored. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of PTSD prior to July 8, 2016 is dismissed. Service connection for respiratory condition (to include asthma) is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent prior to September 16, 2014.