PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and a right knee disability, renders him unemployable due to significant symptoms that preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD claims are remanded for additional development, and his TDIU claim is also remanded due to the inextricability of these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that there is no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has ordered remand due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for updated VA records. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is being evaluated for staged ratings.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating.

An initial 50 percent rating for a service-connected psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD with an unspecified depressive disorder and cannabis use disorder) from October 8, 2014 to June 28, 2017 is granted. A rating greater than 50 percent for the same condition thereafter is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with chronic sleep impairment was granted an initial 50 percent rating, but not higher. The issue of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the impact of PTSD on reliability and productivity. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU due to the complexity of the medical issues involved.

The Board has denied a higher rating for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder with features of GAD and PTSD, but the Court found inadequate reasons and bases in the decision. The case is being remanded to address the impact of the Veteran's reported passive suicidal ideation and inconsistently reported auditory and visual hallucinations on her functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity regarding when and where the Veteran initially filed his claims for service-connected disabilities. The appellant needs to provide additional documentation or information to substantiate her claim.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU and DEA benefits from February 24, 2010 to May 8, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance effective January 1, 2013. The Board found the AOJ's decision to grant these benefits on July 16, 2018, was incorrect and awarded earlier effective dates of January 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, these claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed. The effective date for a 100% rating for Hepatitis C and the earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD were denied due to lack of timely notice of disagreement or request for increase, and because it is not factually ascertainable that these ratings were warranted before the specified dates.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce the evaluation of his service-connected PTSD from 100% to 70% effective June 1, 2020 has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 100 percent.

The April 2010 rating decision denied service connection for PTSD and implicitly denied service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is etiologically related to in-service military sexual trauma (MST) and grants service connection for PTSD.