PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions due to incomplete development of records from his active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, and Alcohol Use Disorder, has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent.,The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD with depression, neurocognitive disorder, and alcohol abuse was rated at 70 percent effective October 4, 2010.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent effective July 24, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU with an effective date of January 5, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, which are secondary to his service-connected recurrent herpes simplex, is granted. The claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient attempts by the RO to corroborate the alleged in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical nexus opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a skin disability, and a respiratory disability are pending.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD and has remanded his claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent. The case is being sent back to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues on appeal due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations and the Veteran's claims file includes evidence indicating worsening of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal to increase the rating for his acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed because he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the 10 percent rating assigned in June 2016.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gunshot wound residuals and scars, hip pain and numbness, knee pain, PTSD, and skin rashes due to herbicide exposure. The appeals are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30%, and the Board has decided to remand this case due to allegations of worsening symptoms since the last examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and cause of death (due to congestive heart failure) are granted as service-connected. PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and alcohol use disorder have been granted a 70% evaluation effective December [REDACTED], 2013, due to significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, anemia with bleeding ulcers, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings for a left shoulder/arm disability, PTSD with depression, and spondylosis of the cervical spine. The appeal for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that his symptoms, while significant, did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent or higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and TBI, as well as the award of TDIU were denied. The effective dates for these decisions are not earlier than March 17, 2016.,An effective date prior to March 17, 2016 was also denied for the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar warts, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various conditions.