PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and PTSD due to incomplete information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as the need for authorization of non-VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, due to incomplete compliance with its March 2021 remand directives and inadequate VA examination opinions. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain a VA examiner's opinion on the nature and etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent, but the appeal is still pending as it seeks a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and the relationship between his psychiatric conditions and service. The VA will attempt to verify the stressors and obtain a medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's back disability is granted as service connection due to an in-service motor vehicle accident (MVA).,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is granted as service connection due to military sexual trauma during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 3, 2014. The rating is effective from the date of his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is being reviewed due to his claim indicating that the symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination in February 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to October 5, 2017. However, he is denied a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD should be remanded due to outstanding treatment records and unverified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to December 13, 2019, for service-connected PTSD with persistent major depressive disorder and a TDIU claim due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Bedford VAMC and Boston VAMC. The Board will obtain these missing records before making a final decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized as occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating. The Board denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and related conditions was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and claustrophobia with depression and anxiety, is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 31, 2017 is remanded due to incomplete employment history and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran needs to provide his employment details and income information for the relevant period.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained after the most recent remand are inadequate and the claims must be remanded again for further development.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50% rating for PTSD with MDD is granted. The claim for TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (Coronary artery disease and Post-traumatic stress disorder) have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent prior to August 27, 2015. The claim for a higher rating from that date forward is denied. Additionally, the Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.