PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and further verification of his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher, and thus an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied from March 15, 2016 to July 21, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating from January 1, 2013 through January 16, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 USC 1318. The appeal for service connection for cause of death is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the effective date of his TDIU award is set at June 18, 2018.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as new evidence has been submitted that supports the claim.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, effective September 30, 2011. The earlier effective date claim for the 100% evaluation of PTSD was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation due to the passage of time since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Appellant was 'insane' at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be causally related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 2, 2004 for the award of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's claim was pending since February 2, 2004 and the evidence showed the presence of a PTSD disability as early as 2003.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder, to include sleep disorder and depression, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in reported stressors and incomplete treatment records. The psychiatric claim is recharacterized as PTSD, and a VA examination will be conducted to verify the claimed stressors and determine the nature of any diagnosed psychiatric disability. The right elbow and left middle finger disabilities are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

Service connection for OSA is granted, and a 50% evaluation for PTSD prior to June 8, 2020 is also granted.,PTSD from June 8, 2020 onwards is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to February 6, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The rating was granted as the symptoms meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated private and VA treatment records, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board denied service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a causal or aggravation relationship between the conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The appeal for a higher evaluation is denied.