PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to additional relevant evidence being associated with the claims file since the January 2020 SOC.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, his CAD with unstable angina at 60 percent, and his diabetes mellitus remains at a 20 percent rating. The effective date for the 60 percent rating for CAD with unstable angina has been granted.

The Board has decided that another examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to January 22, 2007 was denied. The Board found that the disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD, but denied these conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service. Service connection for alcohol use disorder was also denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other diagnoses. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, low back disability, left knee disability, and PTSD have been granted. The effective date for the increased ratings is not specified as it was determined that an earlier effective date would be inappropriate.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection as these issues have been fully granted by a November 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected PTSD from 50% to 70% is remanded. The TDIU appeal remains in appellate status and is also remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depression, and personality disorder, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The examiner did not address the Veteran’s STRs, lay statements, and other evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the claimed suicide event and the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD symptoms prior to February 26, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of additional service personnel records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder are being reviewed based on his reported in-service sexual assault.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD). The decision found no current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and the VA examiner did not find a nexus between any diagnosed condition and service. The claim for PTSD was remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is not shown to have manifested the type, extent and severity of symptoms demonstrating 'total occupational and social impairment' within the meaning of the rating schedule at any point during the pendency of this appeal.,The Veteran’s tinea versicolor does not require systemic therapy. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the skin disability under the rating criteria.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for TBI prior to January 9, 2019, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter are denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to December 14, 2013. The Board finds that there is no longer any allegation of factual or legal error remaining in these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin disorder, an initial schedular compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an initial schedular rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.