PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and Depressive Disorder. The case is now with the RO to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence, including a VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran and updated medical records. A PTSD examination is also needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from July 19, 2010 to November 17, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and hypertension, both of which are secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claims will be reviewed with a focus on whether these conditions are related to service or if they were aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to August 6, 2019 and at 70 percent from that date. The Board denied an increase in ratings for the disability.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraine headaches were granted service connection effective July 13, 2012. However, he is not entitled to an earlier effective date for these conditions.,He was also denied a higher initial rating for his PTSD and a higher initial rating for his migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Crohn's disease. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD due to military sexual trauma is granted. The claims for service connection for plantar synovial cyst and bilateral knee disorder are remanded. The claim for service connection for abdominal injury is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and disability ratings in multiple conditions are being remanded due to pending development of the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The VA is required to provide a VA examination and opinion in these cases.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 9, 2008 for the grant of a 50 percent rating for somatic disorder with tension headaches with PTSD and depressive disorder is denied. The Board also remanded two issues related to her service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus are found to affect his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, necessitating further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to changes in his disability picture since the initial examination.

The Veteran's MDD and PTSD have been rated at 70% since May 29, 2018. The appeal is denied as the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and withdrawn the claim for hypertensive vascular disease. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected PTSD and dysthymic disorder, as well as development of her TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is not rated higher than 30 percent, and service connection for peripheral neuropathy was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, residuals of a hysterectomy, and DM have been granted. The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD related to her active service, and the Board finds that she also has residuals of a hysterectomy and DM as a result of her service-connected back and knee injuries.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been dismissed as the RO issued a Statement of the Case continuing the current evaluations and denying the claims.,The Veteran did not file a substantive appeal, thus the Board lacks jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to insufficient evidence and credibility determinations regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disability, and TDIU.