PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders and other conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD disability was rated at 70 percent from October 1, 2015 to September 26, 2018. The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, social isolation, irritability and angry outbursts, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability remain on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an increased rating for service-connected depression, a temporary total evaluation based on in-patient hospitalization, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence. A new examination is needed, as well as obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as incurred during active service.,There is no evidence of a left ear hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability have been reopened, but the claim for increased rating for PTSD prior to May 5, 2020, and higher than 70 percent thereafter has been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bronchitis was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the condition began during service or is related to a service-connected disability.,PTSD was not rated higher than 50 percent, as the symptoms did not meet criteria for more severe impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective from August 10, 2021. The appeal remains in appellate status as the maximum schedular rating for PTSD is not yet reached.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, including those from non-VA treatment and psychiatric hospitalizations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again.

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The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 26, 1991.

The Board has granted DIC service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to asphyxia by hanging, finding that PTSD substantially contributed to his death. The appeal is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal regarding the rating reduction for PTSD and the SMC claim. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues related to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 USC 1151 or 38 U.S.C. 1318 are also inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The back and dental conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating from March 28, 2012 to December 19, 2014 due to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unemployable prior to this date.

The Veteran's PTSD with a depressive disorder NOS is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for OSA secondary to PTSD should be remanded due to an inadequate opinion regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and potentially relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bronchiolitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired respiratory condition of COPD. The Board has also remanded the issues of TBI, PTSD, and asbestosis for further development. Additionally, the rating for acquired respiratory conditions and a separate compensable rating for pleural plaques are being remanded.