PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and the appeal is remanded to determine if he also meets the criteria for service connection of other psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a head injury have been readjudicated due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for PTSD remains pending.,PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD was denied as untimely.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and migraines, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder due to military sexual trauma as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link between in-service stressors and her current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed as the Board does not have jurisdiction to address this issue under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The matter remains pending and can be pursued through the legacy system or by opting into the AMA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to a VA examination finding that his heart condition did not impact his employability. The Board finds this decision flawed and orders the RO to provide an appropriate VA examination to assess the current impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and dismissed the claim for PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to issues with verifying his in-service traumatic event and addressing all of his diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or GERD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the presence of these conditions and their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to July 17, 2020 and denied for a higher rating. A TDIU was granted effective June 2, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claim for MDD is granted. The claims for PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, and vertigo are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to incomplete consideration of the period prior to July 23, 2018. The case will be readjudicated and a new supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 27, 2014 to September 1, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms of PTSD have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. However, a higher rating is denied for the period from September 1, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD with severe recurrent major depression and alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent from December 1, 2019 to present.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD and depressive disorder with possible psychiatric features. The Veteran is required to undergo another examination to determine if he currently has a psychiatric disorder related to service.