PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of his sun sensitivity and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to service-connected DM and resulting residuals from a common etiology are granted, effective March 10, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new psychiatric examination and addressing secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a maximum disability rating of 100 percent, effective from the date of the March 2015 decision.

The Veteran's migraines/tension headaches are rated at 50 percent from January 10, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's unemployability and the impact of service-connected PTSD on his ability to work. The Veteran is advised to complete a VA Form 21-8940, provide updated employment information from his prior employer, and obtain any outstanding private treatment records for PTSD.

The Board has accepted the October 27, 2016 as timely and granted the appeal of the timeliness of the substantive appeal. The Veteran's claims for PTSD service connection, increased rating for left shoulder disability, and reopening of acquired mental disorder claim are all considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the increased rating and TDIU claims are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for TBI, PTSD, and tension headaches have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider the interaction between the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and his non-service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran's current PTSD symptoms are associated with his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with OCD is now rated at 100% effective February 20, 2020. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran did not perfect an appeal of the denial in March 2019.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total social or occupational impairment, thus denying a 100% rating for PTSD. For TDIU, while he met the schedular criteria with his combined disability rating of 80%, the Board determined he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault, including military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its relationship to her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for a 'neurological issues' was recharacterized as Parkinson's disease and granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) including as secondary to PTSD. As a result, the Board dismissed this claim.

The Veteran's disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve was restored to 40 percent effective February 1, 2020.,The Veteran was granted entitlement to a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to June 25, 2018. Beginning June 25, 2018, the Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted effective July 1, 2015. The effective date for the TDIU is determined to be July 1, 2015 due to unemployability caused by service-connected PTSD.