PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 70 percent, effective from the entire appeal period. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with history of polysubstance abuse is rated at 70 percent effective December 14, 2020. A TDIU is granted effective the same date.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling prior to December 3, 2019 and 70 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his bilateral knee conditions, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and sinus condition. The Board will consider these findings in determining a final decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as moot due to the assignment of a 100% combined schedular rating for all service-connected disabilities since December 26, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that his account of in-service stressors was not corroborated and that there was no evidence of a behavioral change indicative of a traumatic event during service. The positive medical opinions based on these events were deemed insufficient to support the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's PTSD, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The effective date of service connection remains July 25, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a verified in-service stressor, current diagnosis of PTSD, and a link between the two. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that PTSD is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and TDIU due to the need for stressor verification and additional examination.

The Veteran's appeal of his increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's ED is secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for sleep apnea was initially filed on May 21, 2015 and the effective date has been granted as of that date. The claim for PTSD was initially received on July 12, 2010 and an earlier effective date prior to July 12, 2010 is not warranted. The claim for fibromyalgia was initially received on March 10, 2014 and the effective date has been granted as of that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent effective from September 10, 2015. This rating is granted based on the current severity of symptoms that meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for new VA examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as the newly raised issues of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including as a continuation of in-service adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent effective May 1, 2016. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and its impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to several reasons including obtaining new medical opinions, clinical records, and corroborating a reported stressor event. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is now pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded it for further development. The Veteran now needs to provide VA with any missing in-service treatment records from NTC Hospital.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining National Guard records and SSA disability benefits application records.