PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, and his condition is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 28, 2014 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's PTSD was already rated at 100% prior to April 21, 1999.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with Tailor’s bunion, status post left bunionectomy has been granted a 50 percent rating since January 23, 2013. The matter of higher initial ratings for PTSD and TBI is remanded. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD for the period prior to August 31, 1998. The Veteran's CUE motion is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that his current mental health issues are related to his military service. The appeal regarding non-service-connected disability pension benefits is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and a skin disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 5, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, renders him unemployable. The Board finds that his PTSD alone does not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical evidence and expert opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and hypertension. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied. The effective date cannot be earlier than June 4, 2016 as that was when VA first received a communication indicating intent to reopen the claim following the final January 2010 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. For his MDD, a rating of 70% prior to August 22, 2016 is granted but the appeal for higher ratings after that date remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to September 5, 2018.,Starting from September 5, 2018, the Veteran is entitled to a 70 percent rating for his PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, CAD, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and dysthymic/depressive disorder, finding no credible evidence of a diagnosis meeting DSM criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis and the Board finds that his symptoms are not related to military service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied due to lack of a nexus between the claimed condition and a service-connected disability. The Veteran's bruxism claim is also denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or relationship to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder with opioid dependence, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his diagnoses were not related to his active duty service.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to meet his claim for a higher rating.