PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, eye disability, and COPD. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his PTSD disability rating is remanded due to missing records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, intermittent explosive disorder, mixed adjustment disorder, and anxiety, should be remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examination must consider the DSM-IV criteria as well as the updated DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the bilateral hands is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches started during service and continued until his death. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's headaches had their onset in service, and grants service connection for headaches.,Regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder), the Board notes there are several diagnoses present. Adequate opinions have not been obtained that separately address each theory of entitlement and psychiatric disorder that the Veteran was diagnosed with during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, PTSD, and ED, have been granted. The decision also remands several other issues.

The appeal for service connection of a heart disorder is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted as due to military sexual trauma. The issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to a new service department record that was not considered by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for residuals of a neck injury and an increased rating for PTSD due to withdrawal. The issues of service connection for GERD, allergies, chronic sinusitis, and deviated septum are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 11, 2018, for a 50% increased rating for PTSD is denied. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity of PTSD within one year before the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the issues on appeal were not decided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient competent medical evidence and incomplete evidentiary record. The Veteran is required to undergo an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression. Verification efforts are also needed to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total evaluation of 100 percent due to hospitalization over 21 days for PTSD has been dismissed. The issue regarding the rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no rating or effective date is assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression. The effective date is June 4, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his active-duty service in Germany.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches have been granted with effective dates of October 29, 2007, May 1, 2017, and May 1, 2017 respectively. However, the Board has remanded these issues due to additional development being required.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stroke secondary to PTSD or migraine headaches remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.