PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU rating, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% throughout the appeal period, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination and provide new opinions on direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder were granted a disability rating of 70 percent. The Veteran was denied compensable ratings for his migraine and tension headaches prior to June 19, 2019 and from June 19, 2019 to October 26, 2020. A 50 percent rating was granted for the period after October 26, 2020. The Veteran's service connection claims for CFS, OSA, and PLMSD were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in previous decisions and the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hypertension, and their relation to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability based on individual unemployability prior to June 27, 2018 is remanded due to changes in his service-connected conditions and the need for additional evidence regarding his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, mood disorder, and psychotic disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 31, 2007 to July 17, 2013. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The claims for a headache disability and hypertension have been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 100% to 70%, effective March 1, 2021. The reduction is being restored as the evidence does not show an improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and therefore, another remand is required for further development of the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has ordered a remand for the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU prior to November 23, 2020. The remand is due to incomplete compliance with previous directives regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's obesity, which is linked to his service-connected diabetes and PTSD, was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected other trauma and stressor related disorder aggravates his non-service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional information from Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and PTSD due to a significant gap in treatment records between the Veteran's discharge from service and his death. The RO is instructed to make efforts to obtain missing medical records from Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and other sources.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 20, 2016 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms worsened on or around this date.