PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The alcoholism claim is also remanded due to its potential interrelation with the PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a respiratory disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of in-service stressors and treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide more information about his reported stressor events, and VA will seek further research from the JSRRC. If corroborated, an examination will be conducted to determine if PTSD is related to the confirmed stressor event(s). For the respiratory disability claim, a VA examination will assess its likely etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA examiner was instructed to provide a more detailed opinion on whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee strain and slight instability are granted a separate 10 percent rating, while the initial ratings for left knee strain (10%), limitation of flexion of the left hip (10%), and limitation of adduction and rotation of the left hip remain denied. The Veteran is granted an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than primary substance abuse, to include PTSD, is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to January 17, 2014 and increased to 70 percent effective January 17, 2014.,TDIU was granted from May 23, 2011 to January 16, 2014. The claim for TDIU from January 17, 2014 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's PTSD and insomnia disorder are granted with a 30% rating, effective August 28, 2013. The Veteran is also granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dementia, and PTSD), and traumatic brain injury are not service-connected.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD, but the case is remanded to determine if sleep apnea is secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total disability due to service-connected PTSD, and thus denied entitlement to TDIU. Service-connected burial benefits were also denied.

A 70 percent disability rating for PTSD is granted effective February 16, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of January 19, 2006.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50 percent rating from February 20, 2014 to October 9, 2019. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date and after October 10, 2019 is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for GERD with esophagitis was denied, but a TDIU from January 8, 2016 forward was granted. The GERD is rated at 10 percent and the PTSD results in a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination regarding service connection for PTSD, Bipolar Affective Disorder, and aggravation of acquired psychiatric disorders by a service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since September 20, 2019. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes and/or PTSD has been remanded. TDIU remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, effective October 4, 2011, is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to October 4, 2011, and entitlement to a TDIU for the period on appeal prior to October 4, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50% rating throughout the appeal period, but no higher. The Board found that his symptoms more closely approximated the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.