PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors and the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions, including substance abuse, congestive heart failure, seizures, mood disorder, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. The character of discharge from service is also under review.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and left lower extremity neurological disability. The appeal regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence of record. The appeal regarding right ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for sinusitis is granted. Entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and dry eye syndrome are being remanded for further evaluation due to allegations of worsening symptoms since previous examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depression are both granted service connection as they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to June 14, 2018 is granted. The VA has also remanded the issues of ratings for left knee flexion and extension.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has remanded several claims including those for lightning strike residuals, numbness in hands and toes, GERD, skin disorder, discoid lupus, cataracts, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, in conformance with DSM-5 criteria. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of PTSD. The Veteran's MDD is granted at a 70% rating, but no higher. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran was awarded special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertensive cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, tinnitus, hypertension, malaria, and hearing loss. The Board found that he required assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and preparing meals.

The Board has dismissed the appeals on service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma prior to October 2, 2018, and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma from October 2, 2018, and thereafter. The appeal for TDIU is also dismissed. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing documents and records, including a supplementary statement of the case for TDIU and a rating decision on PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after all relevant documents are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's PTSD, due to MST, is granted as the Board found that his assertions of MST are credible and there is a link between his current symptoms and his MST.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate response in a prior VA examination and lack of mental health records from service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric condition, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shingles or other skin disorder was granted. The claims for Parkinson’s disease, actinic keratosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) are pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with stimulant use disorder in remission and major depressive disorder with psychotic features have been rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a head injury, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral ankle disability.