PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate attempts by the AOJ to locate records corroborating the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor. The AOJ is instructed to search for Army unit records from February 23, 1995, to December 31, 1996, and ensure that all correspondence is sent to the Veteran at his current address.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial 70 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim. Other service-connected conditions are also granted or remanded as specified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and the Board finds a remand is warranted to obtain another VA opinion. The earlier effective date claim for PTSD is also remanded due to its inextricability with CUE claims.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the lumbar spine disability prior to April 28, 2015 and granted a TDIU from February 1, 2010 onwards. The decision also noted that the Veteran's combined rating was at or above 70% throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of November 4, 2013 for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The Board found that there was a factually ascertainable increase in severity of PTSD symptoms as of November 4, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Veteran's Vet Center records and addressing whether VA made reasonable efforts to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. Service connection is now established for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), seizures, and obstructive sleep apnea.,However, the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an increased rating for a right shoulder disorder due to inadequate examination results, specifically failing to provide range of motion testing in active and passive motions as well as weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. The Veteran is to be scheduled for another VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as tinnitus. The rating for bronchial asthma was restored to 30 percent effective May 1, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with the current 70 percent disability rating criteria.

The Board denied a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his mental capacity and physical ability were sufficient for substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was denied, and the effective date for service connection of PTSD was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death. The DIC claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s). The Veteran's statements regarding in-service personal assaults are also being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition separate from his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for OSA, secondary to service-connected PTSD, is granted based on the Veteran's long-standing snoring and obesity history.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression has resulted in total occupational and social impairment since March 16, 2020. A 100% evaluation is granted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has PTSD due to his in-service experiences.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right ring finger metacarpal neck fracture do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.