PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of total social or occupational impairment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is granted, and his appeals for service connection of neck disability and back disability, as well as an increased rating for PTSD are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded the case to obtain additional Social Security Administration records to determine if his disability onset date should be changed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for an addendum opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, ear condition, and low back condition are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to September 27, 2018 and granted a 50 percent rating from that date until October 11, 2018. The claim for an increased rating greater than 50 percent is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and its relation to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his neck injury, cognitive residuals of TBI, PTSD, and headaches. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, low back disability, left ankle and knee disabilities, bilateral eye disabilities, hemorrhoids, scar, skin disability, and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development.,VA examinations were cancelled because the Veteran missed them. The Board finds that medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from September 18, 2017 to July 18, 2019. A higher rating of 70 percent is granted for this period.

The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The TDIU claim due to PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and his allergic rhinitis prior to July 9, 2019, is not compensable. The appeal for higher ratings was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bladder cancer with residuals are all granted. The Veteran's PTSD is linked to his service due to in-service stressors. His bilateral hearing loss is also related to his service. However, the claim for bladder cancer was remanded as new evidence did not establish a link between exposure to herbicides and the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to allow for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and other surgeries, contributed to her death from methadone toxicity.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD due to additional evidence received after the August 2017 statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied because he is not considered helpless enough to require such assistance. The service connection claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no credible evidence supporting a personal assault stressor during service.