PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, TBI, and Migraine Headaches due to new evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for clarification of his current disability's relation to service. The Veteran is already service connected for an insomnia disorder, but other psychiatric disorders have been diagnosed. The VA needs to obtain service personnel records and provide a medical opinion regarding the onset of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders during service or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD prior to June 20, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there was no evidence showing in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for heart murmur and an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals of earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar spondylosis, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar spondylosis, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity, PTSD have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal of a TDIU prior to August 26, 2016 has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, tinnitus, sleep apnea, left ulnar nerve neuritis, and right leg tibia stress fracture as no claim or intent to file a claim was received by VA prior to April 8, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms and overall impairment from October 23, 2003 to August 14, 2019 more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to suicidal ideation. An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and a need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to February 7, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, SMAS, and rhinitis have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Major Depressive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran should be provided with an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to the evidence being at least in equipoise regarding its relationship to his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for PTSD was withdrawn.,Service connection for COPD has been granted, with the condition being related to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and will need to correct these issues before making a decision on the TDIU claim for the period prior to October 31, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 1, 2019, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant medical records from his Army Reserve service and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ must obtain a medical opinion from a VA or VA-contracted psychiatrist or psychologist to determine whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his claimed stressors, including fear of hostile military activity while serving at the DMZ in Korea.