PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and melanocarcinoma residuals were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his in-service noise exposure or encounters during deployment, and thus could not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, to include as secondary to seizure disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,His claim for a compensable rating for a right knee disability prior to May 7, 2018 has been remanded. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are being reviewed, but no service connection will be granted at this time as there is insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection for PTSD and ratings for shell fragment wound residuals of the left and right thighs. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted in full, and the claims for increased ratings were previously adjudicated by the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of records documenting the motor vehicle accident and further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, mood disorder, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder. Service connection was also denied for peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD. The VA must obtain updated treatment records, verify in-service stressors, and provide new examinations to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders (ALS and PSP), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) due to insufficient medical opinions provided in previous decisions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to incomplete documentation of scheduled VA examinations and potential failure to notify the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with related alcohol abuse from November 2, 2010 has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, including the issues of service connection for PTSD and erectile dysfunction (secondary to lumbar spine disability), increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) throughout the period on appeal, but his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions and other factors. The case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service, as well as secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion on the Veteran's epilepsy rating and to determine if TDIU should be granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Schizophrenia due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD was denied because the evidence showed that he could still perform substantially gainful employment as a substitute teacher.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that it is due to military sexual trauma experienced during his active duty.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a thoracic spine disability was granted. A rating of 100 percent for PTSD, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee and right knee disorders were denied. The Veteran's hiatal hernia and GERD received a 50 percent rating. TDIU benefits were granted from November 1, 2009 until January 31, 2010 and from September 1, 2011 until May 12, 2013. The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, and completing and returning a VA Form 21-8940 regarding his unemployability.