PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 1, 2018 (excluding periods of temporary total evaluation) is rated at 50 percent. The rating will remain at this level until a higher evaluation can be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's COPD and its relation to service, as well as whether his PTSD caused or aggravated his tobacco use. The cause of death is respiratory failure due to intra-abdominal sepsis, bowel perforation during complicated colonoscopy, and Crohn’s Disease.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and PTSD. However, additional development is required as VA examiners have not provided opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal before a decision was made, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are currently rated as 70% disabling, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea. The Board finds that the Veteran’s symptoms likely had their onset during service.,Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus and right leg numbness as there is no evidence of these conditions in service records, and they are not related to service.,The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed after his period of active duty service. The Board finds that the VA examiner’s opinion is inadequate due to a lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 31, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his PTSD alone precludes him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss of use of any extremity, and he is not service connected for a severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an eye disability, or an inhalation injury. Therefore, the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation are not met.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the remand instructions and thus, the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of June 3, 2009. The Board granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for various conditions, including lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and PTSD, are being remanded due to additional evidence added to the file after a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as the evidence shows he can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychotic disorder. The case is remanded to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is a result of his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU due to outstanding VA records and the need for updated examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition, and her TDIU claim is also being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety disorder with features of OCD and PTSD.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation of his service-connected left ankle contusion and entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since February 13, 2017. The Board found that the condition resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total impairment.