PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding the impact of the Veteran's past hallucinations and suicidal ideation on her functioning during the period prior to October 29, 2016. The Veteran is required to provide a clear statement of her hallucinations over the claim period, and a new examination must be conducted by an examiner other than those who previously examined or provided opinions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depression, due to a lack of verified in-service stressors and the absence of evidence linking current diagnoses to service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD and psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The claim for COPD was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran before a decision could be made. The claim for psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent until November 14, 2019, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, for PTSD, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are all remanded due to incomplete STRs, need for additional medical opinions, and the possibility of worsening symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not begin during service or are otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tension headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 18, 2009. The Board has granted TDIU from that date.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia. The examiner will be asked to address whether any of these conditions are related to service or service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as he has already been receiving a 100% rating. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, which was claimed as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination related to the Veteran's PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA was granted, and the secondary service connection for obesity associated with PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 28, 2019. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating during the entire appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD resulting from Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as the evidence did not support a finding that the condition began during service or was related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left sciatic nerve disability, and back scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied her claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Stimulant Use Disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-5 criteria and insufficient evidence to support a link between his claimed stressors and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for PTSD as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred. For her right hip, back, and wrist disabilities, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including whether there are any superimposed disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including a lack of clear diagnosis and connection to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and unverified in-service stressors. Additional opinions are needed regarding the relationship between his disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, and his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.