PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, is related to his military service. However, due to insufficient evidence provided by the VA examiner in August 2020, the case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, right foot disability, sleep apnea, headaches, lumbosacral spine disability, wrist disabilities, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service experiences are considered credible, but further medical examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating from July 29, 2014 to September 30, 2015. A higher rating is not warranted for the period of October 1, 2015 to July 22, 2018, and a 50 percent rating shall be assigned from July 23, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression has been reopened. The case is being remanded for a new VA opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to March 2, 2014, for left TMJ pain and a rating in excess of 50 percent for bipolar disorder with PTSD are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded pending additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from May 20, 2015 to August 4, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The issue of TDIU has been granted and effective since May 20, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease, to include angina associated with posttraumatic stress syndrome, is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, MDD, and ADHD due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. An addendum opinion is needed from a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 31, 2017 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran's condition manifested as early as the date of his claim and thus entitlement arose at least as early as January 31, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, finding that his PTSD caused or aggravated his migraines. The decision is based on evidence showing a causal link between PTSD and migraines.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective March 6, 2019. The appeal for an earlier effective date was denied as the earliest possible effective date is the day following separation from service or within one year of separation if a claim was filed during that period.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, but the Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 70 percent rating.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t), which pertains to aid and attendance due to TBI, but the AOJ did not consider this issue in their initial decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The examiner needs to clarify if PTSD caused or aggravated weight gain, which in turn led to the development of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is dismissed as the RO already granted this condition in an August 2012 rating decision.,Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The Veteran did not have hearing loss defined by VA standards at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD, gunshot wound residuals of the right posterior shoulder, and initial compensable rating for right shoulder strain were granted. The PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective April 3, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, rating for CAD, scar secondary to CAD, and TDIU due to unavailability of Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder, which are claimed as service-connected conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these disorders based on in-service stressors related to his brother's death in Vietnam.