PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and lack of thorough review of evidence. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD and for a TDIU, due to outstanding VA and private treatment records needing to be associated with the case file. The Veteran was also provided an opportunity to submit additional evidence regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice and inadequate reasons for denying service connection for PTSD as due to military sexual assault (MST). The Veteran needs to be provided with proper notification under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) based on personal assaults, and a new VA examination is required to determine the relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressors. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development and an examination if necessary.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and a need for further evidentiary development. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective August 1, 2018. The rating was reduced to 50% in July 2019 due to improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work. The appeal is granted as the reduction was improper.,Effective dates for service connection are determined based on when entitlement arose or when a claim was received within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability with cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase in rating as his range of motion meets the current criteria for this rating level.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase in rating as his range of motion also meets the current criteria for this rating level.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of total occupational and social impairment prior to July 1, 2015. The Board denied a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's increased rating for PTSD from October 1, 2018 was denied as the severity of symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The initial non-compensable rating for hearing loss from August 29, 2018 was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is granted as service connected due to aggravation by his service-connected disabilities. The Board vacated the previous decision denying this claim.

The claim for service connection of a left eye condition is dismissed.,PTSD has been granted at a 70% rating since June 10, 2014 and prior to that date. The Veteran also received TDIU effective January 29, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the service connection of the low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is considered part of his reopened claim for a nervous condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%, which does not meet the requirement for a permanent and total service-connected disability needed for DEA benefits.