PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of recent mental health treatment notes and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as a cognitive impairment claim, are being returned to the RO for additional review.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and potential outstanding records. The Veteran should be given an opportunity to provide additional information, and a psychiatric examination is needed to determine if PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to January 29, 2019 and granted a 70 percent rating effective from that date. The decision denied an initial higher rating for the period before January 29, 2019.

The Board finds the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to active duty service, thus granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current mental health disability, including anxiety, depression and PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to in-service trauma, specifically fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. As such, service connection for his current mental health disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address the Veteran's stressors. The claim for service connection is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The TBI residuals were also rated as noncompensable until January 10, 2017, when they were upgraded to a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection claims has been withdrawn due to the appellant's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, OSA, and tinnitus rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from July 15, 2014 to December 13, 2018. Effective October 29, 2019, his combined evaluation for compensation was 90 percent, qualifying him for SMC at the statutory housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot determine if he has a gainful occupation without his employment status and income information. The matter will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

Service connection is granted for bilateral arm myoclonus. Service connection for PTSD and enhanced physiologic tremor are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an increased rating to 70 percent and a TDIU is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess his left elbow disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and several other issues were dismissed. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety, was reopened due to new evidence. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of erectile dysfunction, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including mood disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD) due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional private treatment records related to his PTSD.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient evidence, including for left hip condition secondary to bilateral knee chondromalacia, right hip condition secondary to bilateral knee chondromalacia, degenerative arthritis of the spine, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder.