PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address the Veteran's stressors. The claim for service connection is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The TBI residuals were also rated as noncompensable until January 10, 2017, when they were upgraded to a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection claims has been withdrawn due to the appellant's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, OSA, and tinnitus rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from July 15, 2014 to December 13, 2018. Effective October 29, 2019, his combined evaluation for compensation was 90 percent, qualifying him for SMC at the statutory housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot determine if he has a gainful occupation without his employment status and income information. The matter will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

Service connection is granted for bilateral arm myoclonus. Service connection for PTSD and enhanced physiologic tremor are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an increased rating to 70 percent and a TDIU is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess his left elbow disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and several other issues were dismissed. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety, was reopened due to new evidence. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of erectile dysfunction, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including mood disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD) due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional private treatment records related to his PTSD.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient evidence, including for left hip condition secondary to bilateral knee chondromalacia, right hip condition secondary to bilateral knee chondromalacia, degenerative arthritis of the spine, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds no legal basis for a higher rating and denies the claim. For the other issues, remand is required to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially new VA examinations.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for individual unemployability, increased evaluation for PTSD, and an earlier effective date. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted the reopening of the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded for further development and a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is related to his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but the claim for a higher rating has been granted to 70 percent.

The Veteran's neck disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to its interdependence with the increased PTSD rating claim.,PTSD remains at 70 percent, which is the maximum available rating under VA regulations. The Veteran's PTSD was recently witnessed by another veteran committing suicide in September 2014, and a supplemental medical opinion should be obtained to consider this event.