PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to ensure proper notification of their unavailability. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of proper notification for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran is required to cooperate in this process by attending the scheduled examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to ensure a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and MDD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and Migraine Headaches, as well as his TDIU claim, need further development due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's request for an extension of time to respond to the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's migraines were rated at 30 percent prior to January 16, 2020 and at 50 percent from that date onward.,PTSD symptoms were rated at 30 percent prior to January 13, 2020 and at 50 percent thereafter.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to the death of the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's headache disorder is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's mantel cell leukemia is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder) is granted as service-connected on a secondary basis to his service-connected mantel cell leukemia.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to a disagreement with the July 2018 rating decision. The JMR noted that the Veteran’s participation in a Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program prior to January 1, 2018 may have reflected marginal employment or a protected work environment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective October 15, 2018. The SMC based on housebound status claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU due to insufficient development and adjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to September 28, 2015. Therefore, the claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD in excess of 50 percent prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for chronic adjustment disorder with PTSD prior to February 18, 2020. The decision also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective from May 29, 2015. The Veteran's Sarcoidosis claim was also granted in a November 2016 decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to August 10, 2012. The claim for a higher rating and TDIU prior to this date was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected, and the TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria.,Service connection for DD was granted based on the secondary theory of entitlement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was found not to have established a current psychiatric diagnosis, with the most persuasive evidence being the August 2020 VA examination report.