PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back disability, heart disability, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a VA examination and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been granted. The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, nerve damage of the tongue, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and agoraphobia with panic attacks), and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD (claimed as anxiety and depression), is rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2017.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from August 1, 2007 to July 20, 2009 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. SMC for regular need for aid and attendance or being housebound was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, PTSD with anxiety, sleep apnea as secondary to depression, and a respiratory disorder have been granted. The claim for higher evaluations for coronary artery disease has been remanded.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of PTSD and Adjustment Disorder, as VA did not satisfy its duty to assist in obtaining service records and an adequate medical examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for termination of TDIU benefits and entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) since July 1, 2020. The decision found that actual employability was not established by clear and convincing evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD with TBI (PTSD) have been granted. The effective date for these grants is February 9, 2017. Additionally, the Veteran's claim of service connection for IBS has also been granted, but an earlier effective date was not awarded due to lack of evidence prior to February 9, 2017. The reduction in rating for sinusitis from 10% to zero percent effective June 23, 2021 is upheld.

The Veteran's claims for an increase in PTSD with depression, earlier effective date for service connection, and service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees are all remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ must obtain private treatment records from his mental health provider and arrange for a VA examination for his knee conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a predecisional duty to assist error. A retrospective medical opinion is needed to assess the extent of his functional impairment from service-connected disabilities prior to February 13, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been granted, with a 50% rating for PTSD effective October 3, 2016, and a 50% rating for bilateral hearing loss effective July 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran must be provided a VA psychiatric examination that reviews his medical history and determines whether he has any current psychiatric disorders related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD with depressive and anxiety disorder, NOS. The Board finds that current evidence does not sufficiently reflect the impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination addressing secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's contentions of a personal assault in-service and his service-connected back, neck, or shoulder disabilities are now considered.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain on an aggravation basis and denied a higher initial disability rating for PTSD with residuals of TBI.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations, lack of notification of private treatment records, and incomplete information regarding stressors. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional details about his claimed stressors and complete forms for obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and schizophrenia had their onset during or are otherwise etiologically related to his service, granting entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.