PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for her psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD. The claim will be reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-V criteria for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether any such disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and to obtain a VA examination for his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD, and ratings in excess of 30 percent prior to June 18, 2016 and a rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter for PTSD. The claim for TDIU was also withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all current psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a laceration of the left index finger is denied as there are no residuals found.,Service connection for low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, is denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred during service or within one year post-service. The examiner opined that any current arthritis is more likely related to natural aging process rather than service.,The Veteran's claim for a right leg disorder is denied as there is no objective medical evidence of a current right leg disorder, and the VA examination found no signs of such a condition.,Service connection for venereal disease, including genital warts and syphilis, is denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The examiner concluded that any residual symptoms are not related to service.,PTSD claim is remanded as there was insufficient evidence provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, mood disorder with anxious and depressive features, and unspecified depressive disorder due to a lack of current diagnoses or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are rated at 30% prior to October 2, 2019, and 50% on or after that date. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted (PTSD) while others were denied (Major Depressive Disorder).

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the claims for Sleep Apnea, Glaucoma, Sinus Condition, Breathing Condition, Headaches, and Hypertension. The effective date for PTSD is May 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service or his service-connected DVT.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right shoulder disability due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations due to inconsistencies in his current symptomatology and need for clarification on certain issues. The Veteran must be provided with examinations which consider the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and cataracts.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and forehead scar do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since July 21, 2017. Service connection for HPV and sleep apnea are granted. The remaining issues (neck disability, low back disability, seizures of the left/right side of the body, right ankle disability, migraine headaches, and tremors) remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, was rated at 30 percent prior to December 4, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to January 12, 2018, was denied. The claim for a higher rating from June 25, 2020, forward, was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use has been rated at 50 percent since February 20, 2013. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal of a higher evaluation for PTSD prior to March 7, 2017 has been withdrawn by the appellant.