PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to August 30, 2016 for the award of service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as he and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file regarding the Veteran's current neck disability. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his cervical strain is related to service, including the use of new rucksacks during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development and clarification of medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, memory loss, back disability, headache disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The issues include service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of March 12, 1998, the date he initially filed his claim. The June 2014 rating decision that granted service connection is considered to have been correctly applied based on new evidence received after the initial decision.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at a 50 percent, effective from the date of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and endometriosis due to service, including consideration of an in-service personal assault. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records, establish duty status at relevant times, and provide a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD or endometriosis, and if so, whether such is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, TBI, migraine headaches, and TDIU. The effective date request for PTSD is denied.

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The VA will need to obtain missing treatment records from specific VA medical centers.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, and the claims for left wrist, forearm, and hand disorders are dismissed. The effective dates for service connection of right foot disorder, tinnitus, and right forearm disorder are also dismissed. Service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 24, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer residuals was also granted with an effective date of May 24, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded to obtain private medical records from his provider, Dr. H. Rank.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a military sexual trauma (MST) because there was no evidence corroborating the in-service stressor and the current symptoms are not related to the alleged incident.

The Veteran's TDIU is based on multiple service-connected disorders, with at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more. The combined rating does not meet the minimum schedular requirement for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). Therefore, SMC based on housebound status is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for restoration of a 70 percent evaluation and an increased rating to 50 percent or higher for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 29, 2012 for both the TDIU and Chapter 35 DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional review of his VA treatment records and a request for waiver of AOJ initial consideration. The case will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remands these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board denied his claim for an increased rating.,The Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial in 2012.,No specific exposure basis was provided for any of the conditions.