PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the reduction of PTSD rating from 70% to 0%, and the restoration of TDIU due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is now before the Board again.

The Board has found that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes due to insufficient consideration of certain stressor events and behavioral changes. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted effective January 31, 2007. A 50 percent rating was assigned from that date until April 6, 2014.,Effective April 7, 2014, the Veteran is rated at 100 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and PTSD are remanded due to the need for new examinations and consideration of updated rating criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no corroborated stressor and no evidence of a psychiatric disability during periods of active duty or inactive duty training.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted as it is at least as likely as not related to service-connected depressive disorder.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of current disability, with no evidence showing a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For PTSD prior to May 31, 2022, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent initial rating. From that date forward, he received a 70 percent rating.

Service connection for PTSD was denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.,The rating in excess of 10 percent for painful right shoulder surgical scar and separate compensable rating for a right shoulder surgical scar were both denied due to lack of evidence supporting higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to September 14, 2015. From September 14, 2015, to April 7, 2017, a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition secondary to a back disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and Schizophrenia, are being reviewed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and conflicting opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. The Veteran is requested to provide missing prison medical records, and a new VA opinion will be obtained to address the onset and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided that the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, secondary to service-connected disabilities, needs further development due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was granted a 100% rating from January 17, 2012 to August 8, 2022. The other issues remain pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% disability rating from November 9, 2010, and TDIU due to PTSD is also granted. SMC at the housebound rate was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective December 17, 2019. The Board has ordered remand for further development to determine if the Veteran should be granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.