PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to July 2, 2016 and a rating in excess of 70 percent from that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion to clarify the Veteran's current diagnosis and determine if any prior diagnoses were erroneous. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied, and secondary service connection due to his service-connected amputation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from May 21, 2004.

The Veteran's right anterior tibia scar was initially rated as noncompensable and later increased to 10 percent. The PTSD claim resulted in a denial of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent, with the exception of August 14, 2015 when it was granted at 50 percent. The Veteran's diverticulitis with GERD claim was denied.,The Board found no evidence to support increased ratings for any conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying in-service stressors and obtaining updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is also under review.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and lack of thorough review of evidence. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD and for a TDIU, due to outstanding VA and private treatment records needing to be associated with the case file. The Veteran was also provided an opportunity to submit additional evidence regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice and inadequate reasons for denying service connection for PTSD as due to military sexual assault (MST). The Veteran needs to be provided with proper notification under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) based on personal assaults, and a new VA examination is required to determine the relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressors. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development and an examination if necessary.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and a need for further evidentiary development. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective August 1, 2018. The rating was reduced to 50% in July 2019 due to improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work. The appeal is granted as the reduction was improper.,Effective dates for service connection are determined based on when entitlement arose or when a claim was received within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability with cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase in rating as his range of motion meets the current criteria for this rating level.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase in rating as his range of motion also meets the current criteria for this rating level.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of total occupational and social impairment prior to July 1, 2015. The Board denied a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's increased rating for PTSD from October 1, 2018 was denied as the severity of symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The initial non-compensable rating for hearing loss from August 29, 2018 was also denied.