PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective June 22, 2011. This decision grants a higher rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in the July 2019 VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma. The examiner did not adequately explain the prevalence of OSA among patients with different levels of asthma and did not address the impact of asthma on the severity of OSA.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular thresholds for a TDIU, and there was no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have become moot as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions due to incomplete development of records from his active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, and Alcohol Use Disorder, has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent.,The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD with depression, neurocognitive disorder, and alcohol abuse was rated at 70 percent effective October 4, 2010.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent effective July 24, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU with an effective date of January 5, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, which are secondary to his service-connected recurrent herpes simplex, is granted. The claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient attempts by the RO to corroborate the alleged in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical nexus opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a skin disability, and a respiratory disability are pending.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD and has remanded his claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent. The case is being sent back to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues on appeal due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations and the Veteran's claims file includes evidence indicating worsening of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal to increase the rating for his acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed because he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the 10 percent rating assigned in June 2016.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gunshot wound residuals and scars, hip pain and numbness, knee pain, PTSD, and skin rashes due to herbicide exposure. The appeals are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30%, and the Board has decided to remand this case due to allegations of worsening symptoms since the last examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and cause of death (due to congestive heart failure) are granted as service-connected. PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and alcohol use disorder have been granted a 70% evaluation effective December [REDACTED], 2013, due to significant impairment in work and social functioning.