PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with specified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional examinations. The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD), lumbar spine disability, renal calculi, right foot disability, left forefoot and ankle disability, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all at issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues related to timely filing of a notice of disagreement and reopening a service connection claim. The Veteran's representative, K.L.L., claims they did not receive the March 2014 rating decision notification letter from VA.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of July 15, 2010 for a 100 percent evaluation for her service-connected PTSD with MDD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that she does not currently have PTSD and that her current psychiatric symptoms are indicative of major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression have been service connected. The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals seeking higher ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing all pending appeals.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to July 3, 2018, and greater than 70 percent thereafter. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 14, 2015, for PTSD; entitlement to a compensable disability rating for impotence associated with prostate cancer residuals; and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 14, 2015. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 31, 2015 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Board previously denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The Veteran appealed this decision, and the Court granted a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). A new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold schedular TDIU criteria, and his service-connected disabilities alone do not result in occupational impairment sufficient to warrant extraschedular referral.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, and therefore grants service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the issues of increasing ratings for various service-connected conditions and is also considering a claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The TDIU claim will be considered in conjunction with the other claims.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective from July 31, 2019.,The Veteran's OSA is not rated higher than 50%, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination of whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unemployable prior to May 17, 2012. The claim will be submitted to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating effective May 19, 2015. The Veteran's hypertension remains at noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal to restore service connection for mood disorder NOS, which was previously severed. The rating decisions regarding knee conditions remain pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.