PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since May 1, 2014. The condition caused total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of October 28, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD. A new VA examination is required to assess his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, PTSD/depression, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The issue of TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of total social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of right knee disability is dismissed as moot due to the revision of the September 1983 rating decision on CUE. Service connection for various conditions including cervical spine, bilateral hip disorder, left leg condition, and psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in September 2010, and the effective date of service connection for PTSD is set at November 30, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added since the last rating decisions. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are now pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and a rating of 70 percent is granted.,A rating higher than 10 percent for dermatitis of the feet is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

This decision denies an increased rating for OSA and grants a TDIU. The Board finds the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity (BLE) radiculopathy, OSA, PTSD, LLE peripheral neuropathy, RLE peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension do not warrant staged ratings as his symptoms have not resulted in chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or the presence of a tracheostomy. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.,PTSD has been rated 50 percent disabling since September 16, 2008, and 70 percent disabling since October 24, 2011. Lumbar spine disability was rated 10 percent disabling as of April 20, 2004; LLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; RLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; and hypertension was rated non-compensable as of September 8, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,PTSD has been rated 50 percent disabling since September 16, 2008, and 70 percent disabling since October 24, 2011. Lumbar spine disability was rated 10 percent disabling as of April 20, 2004; LLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; RLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; and hypertension was rated non-compensable as of September 8, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and irritable bowel syndrome) prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, kidney disorder, and PTSD have been granted. Bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to in-service noise exposure. The kidney disorder is not related to service or a service-connected condition. PTSD was incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including nephrolithiasis, squamous cell cancer of the left ear, neck, and face, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and MDD), bilateral hearing loss, and individual unemployability. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been granted. The cervical spine, left knee, right knee, and headaches (including migraines) claims are pending and need further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia and PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 30, 1998. The issue of earlier effective date for DEA benefits is inextricably intertwined with the rating assigned for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, to include depressive disorder with alcohol abuse, agoraphobia, and anxiety, has been sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, to include depressive disorder with alcohol abuse, agoraphobia, and anxiety, has been sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment issues are attributed to other factors such as non-service connected disabilities and personal behavior.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was previously denied in October 2009. The new evidence submitted by the Veteran relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim, and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating it. As such, the claim is reopened.