PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board finds that further development of the record is needed before a decision can be made on the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appellant has been diagnosed with various conditions and her attorney indicated interest in adjudicating the TDIU claim along with the PTSD claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations for the Veteran's PTSD, TBI, and back disability claims.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, PTSD, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for reopening service connection for PTSD is granted, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his incarceration at Fort Le, Kansas. The AOJ should arrange for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, TBI residuals, and right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, due to a lack of evidence linking his current symptoms to his military service.

The Veteran's death is attributed to PTSD, which the appellant claims was caused by his military service. The Board has ordered additional VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had PTSD due to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded both his claim for an increased rating and his TDIU claim due to the severity of his PTSD.

The claim to service connection for a low back disability is reopened and remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 6, 2006. The Board granted a TDIU based on the Veteran’s PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective April 5, 2019. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for residuals of fracture of the right fourth and fifth fingers, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and as secondary to TBI), and service connection for traumatic brain injury are remanded due to procedural reasons.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 19, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus disabilities are rated at 50% and 10%, respectively, totaling a combined rating of 60%. The Board found that these conditions do not render the Veteran incapable of maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of increased ratings for PTSD and IBS was denied. The Veteran is entitled to a rating in excess of 40 percent for her back disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent for her right lumbar radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 20 percent for her right knee disability based on limited flexion, a rating in excess of 10 percent for her right knee disability based on subluxation, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for her left knee patellofemoral syndrome.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of increased ratings for PTSD and IBS was granted. The Veteran is entitled to a rating of 30 percent for her IBS as of October 8, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right hip replacement, joint pain condition, and lumbar spine condition have been withdrawn.,Service connection for a respiratory condition (asthma) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune has been denied. The evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus between the current diagnosis of asthma and her period of service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation.