PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 6, 2000 is being remanded due to the need for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Services for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, PTSD, and GERD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons or bases in addressing whether the September 2019 Compensation and Pension Examiner substantially complied with the November 2018 Board's remand instructions regarding PTSD. The examiner did not fully address the impact of PTSD on social and occupational functioning, nor did they distinguish symptoms attributable to PTSD from those due to other causes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to unclear notification of scheduled VA examinations. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied because the Veteran has not provided evidence that his condition was caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. Additional development is needed, including a neuropsychological evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability prior to May 30, 2018 was denied. However, the appeal was reopened and granted with a 70% rating effective from May 30, 2018. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial evaluations for PTSD and recurrent parotid hyperplasia with bilateral parotitis was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder (also claimed as depression and anxiety) throughout the appeal period. The issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 30 percent rating for the entire period prior to January 15, 2020. A higher rating of in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from January 15, 2020 is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issues of acquired psychiatric disability and right ear hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD is linked to a reported in-service personal assault. The VA needs to obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied. A disability rating of 40 percent for gout is granted. The criteria for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spondylosis of L5 with degenerative disc disease are not met prior to December 3, 2019 and subsequent to that date. Increased ratings for left knee and right knee disabilities are also denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for instability of the right knee is granted. The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) effective October 1, 2020 is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of recent mental health treatment notes and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as a cognitive impairment claim, are being returned to the RO for additional review.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and potential outstanding records. The Veteran should be given an opportunity to provide additional information, and a psychiatric examination is needed to determine if PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to January 29, 2019 and granted a 70 percent rating effective from that date. The decision denied an initial higher rating for the period before January 29, 2019.

The Board finds the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to active duty service, thus granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current mental health disability, including anxiety, depression and PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to in-service trauma, specifically fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. As such, service connection for his current mental health disability is granted.