PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and hypertension have been reopened, but the Board has remanded these issues due to new evidence. The PTSD claim is denied as there was no increase in severity within a year prior to July 26, 2018.,The earlier effective dates for residuals of shotgun injury with muscle groups XVI and XVII are granted, while those for muscle group XVII are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to April 19, 2021, and increased to 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran also received a compensable rating for his right hand fracture. TDIU was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to address the onset and etiology of these conditions as well as any potential aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and the Veteran's failure to provide information regarding his in-service stressors. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability identified during the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition. The issue of TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the evaluation claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 2, 2009, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depression was denied as there were no relevant official service department records in December 2009 that could have affected the original denial and the award of service connection was not based on these records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as a matter of law because he is currently incarcerated for felony convictions and any TDIU rating would commence during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder, based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and a link between the current disabilities and those events.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent from June 14, 2016, to May 29, 2018, for MDD and PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and Adjustment Disorder) is granted as related to his service. His degenerative arthritis of the spine is also granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective October 29, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale addressing whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations by orthopedic spine surgeons and a VA psychiatrist.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with history of cocaine and alcohol abuse is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, but the Veteran is now eligible for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for HIV/AIDS and PTSD with major depressive disorder/major depression is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD, insomnia secondary to PTSD, TBI, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine require additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his coronary artery disease and to ascertain whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD related to service.