PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relation to service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, evaluation of knee disabilities, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. Additional development is required.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left arm disorder, PTSD, and lumbar spine disorders are not service-connected. The Board also found that her right knee and foot conditions have not been evaluated since September 2014 and ordered additional examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety with major depressive disorder and PTSD, due to military sexual trauma during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of depressive disorder is causally related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depression due to MST, are etiologically related to his military sexual trauma during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from September 5, 2019. The Board found that the disability manifests in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not to a level warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from June 13, 2010. The reduction in rating for bilateral cataracts was remanded due to inadequate SOC addressing its propriety. The compensable rating for bilateral cataracts is also remanded as the criteria were revised effective May 2018.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural errors and incomplete evidence, including missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was dismissed because the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD and right ankle traumatic arthritis were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's left eye disorder is denied as not related to service or a current disability. Other issues such as eczema, respiratory disorders, psychiatric conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorders are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and his active duty service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Board has determined that the schedular criteria were not met prior to June 14, 2017, but there is sufficient evidence to show he was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and OSA are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The rating for his PTSD is maintained at 50%.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective October 6, 2020. Service connection for his neck disability is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation at all times during the appeal period, leading to a TDIU from August 31, 2010 to March 1, 2018. The Board has remanded his claim for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 10, 2010 to May 4, 2019. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and schizo-affective disorder, but has remanded the cases due to additional development being required.