PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical information and release forms.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD ratings and TDIU prior to May 21, 2021 are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete verification of in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is now pending again.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a higher rating of PTSD, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 10, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50% prior to November 15, 2017 and 70% beginning November 15, 2017. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any period.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran's IBS diagnosis is from a private gastroenterologist within one year after separation from service in 1987. The VA examiner will need to determine if the Veteran's subjective symptoms since 2010 support a diagnosis of IBS while his prior symptoms did not. For the acquired psychiatric disorder, the VA examiner will need to identify any current mental health diagnoses and determine their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 19, 2015 and onwards due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating for these conditions is 80%.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a back disorder, denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, right hip disorder, and right leg disorder. The Veteran did not have current disabilities for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and a need for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his hypertension claim. The PTSD rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service connection claim, specifically on whether his acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder and PTSD) is related to his in-service head injury and/or his service-connected TBI residuals.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, PTSD with major depression, and intermittent explosive disorder, are found to be related to his period of military service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 29, 2013. Therefore, the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for high cholesterol, an increased rating for tinnitus, and earlier effective dates for hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left and right ankle disorders, headaches, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her active duty service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and traumatic brain injury due to incomplete opinions from previous VA examiners. The claims are now pending with the AOJ.