PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependency causes or aggravates his Parkinson's disease. The case is now pending further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder claims are remanded for further development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder, due to in-service personal assault. The Veteran's symptoms are linked to his military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and he is now entitled to a separate 10% rating for left knee limitation of motion.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knees have been remanded, as well as his TDIU application.

The Veteran's PTSD and right shoulder traumatic arthritis have been granted service connection, with a rating of 40 percent for the latter prior to November 23, 2015. The TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee DJD, status post medial meniscus repair, is granted a 20 percent initial evaluation. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether OSA is related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date that can be assigned is April 22, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD was remanded due to a lack of opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or worsened obesity and thus contributed to GERD.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to June 28, 2018 and denied a higher rating. From June 28, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70%, also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder, along with his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), were granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision was made prior to any award of benefits.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) explaining the rationale and calculation of attorney fees awarded in July 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disability are found to be related to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered due to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to pre-adjudicatory duty to assist errors. The file must be returned to the examiner who performed the December 2019 VA PTSD examination for an addendum opinion based on a review of the file and any additional evidence that is added to the file.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 4, 2008 for the grant of service connection for hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer residuals. The Veteran's initial claim was received more than one year after her separation from active duty.,An effective date before October 5, 2015 for Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefits is denied as there is no permanent total service-connected disability prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her in-service injuries and exposure. The VA will obtain missing service treatment records, including those from her reserve component time, and seek clarification on any reported exposure to pollution or toxins.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating since August 15, 2018, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened and granted. The evidence shows that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD, his treating psychologist provided a link between his PTSD symptoms and an in-service stressor, and there is credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of June 4, 2009, for service connection of PTSD. The decision states that the earliest diagnosis of PTSD was on June 4, 2009, and thus the claim arose at this time.