PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is found to be related to his in-service trauma or stressors. Service connection for this condition is granted.,The Veteran's traumatic brain injury is also found to be related to his in-service injuries and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective March 27, 2018. Effective November 4, 2020, the Veteran's SMC claim is also granted.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and DEA benefits from March 14, 2011 to February 10, 2014. SMC for housebound status was denied as the Veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated at 60% or more.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of verification of in-service stressors. The Veteran's claims are pending and will be reconsidered after further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, is granted as secondary to his service-connected Hodgkin's lymphoma. The rating for the status post left axillary/left subclavian veins blood clot remains remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The left hip and right hip disorders are remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to the low back disorder. The low back disorder rating remains at 40%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his education, skills, training, and work history allow for other types of work.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating prior to June 31, 2018.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma (MST) and depression, are service-connected. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms most closely approximated a 50 percent disability rating from June 30, 2006, through January 28, 2019. The claim for higher ratings was denied as the symptoms did not more closely approximate those associated with a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for low back disability is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD is granted, and SMC at the housebound rate is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted, but the Board found that there is no causal relationship between his current PTSD symptoms and his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 70 percent due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective March 6, 2017. The Board found this reduction improper and restored the 70% rating.,For the period on appeal (March 6, 2017 - May 4, 2022), the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher than 70% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and bipolar II disorder, is being reviewed as a result of his in-service stressors. His left knee disability is also under review, with an emphasis on whether it is related to his right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and alcohol use.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, diabetes, and neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since February 27, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met prior to May 6, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). From June 28, 2018, he also had additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable as at least 60 percent disabling, qualifying for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain any in-service mental health records that may have been maintained separately from her military medical records.