PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, and Parkinson’s disease residuals due to incomplete development. The AOJ must complete all requested development and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD, a left shoulder disability, and hemorrhoids due to outstanding VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's scars of the right ankle/foot, right knee, left middle finger and thumb, right hand palm/wrist, and status post total matrixectomy of the right hallux are granted a 30 percent disability rating. The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased rating of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected PTSD did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and disability ratings has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to May 27, 2020 most closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Veteran’s LLE radiculopathy did not manifest as complete or severe incomplete paralysis at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and updated treatment records.,The Board is also remanding several other issues, including an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, increased ratings for left ankle status post-sprain with instability and shin splints, right knee medial collateral ligament/meniscal tear with grinding/popping, and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for a pulmonary disability and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of current evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II; left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve); and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and MDD are related to his in-service stressor, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, satisfied with the disability ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease cervical spine is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings due to new VA treatment records being added to the file. The AOJ will review these records and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The reduction in rating for diabetes mellitus from 40 to 20 percent, effective January 1, 2018, was proper. Service connection has been established for PTSD, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, prostate cancer residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, and service-connected conditions that have not resulted in a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 30 percent disabling from September 10, 2015 to January 30, 2019. The rating was granted for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 1, 2019 was denied as there is no evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a digestive condition and increased PTSD rating is denied. The Board found that the current digestive condition is not related to his period of active military service or any service-connected conditions, including PTSD.