PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and eye problems, make it impossible for him to work as a commercial electrician. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TBI was granted service connection, but his claims for PTSD, alcohol abuse disorder (secondary to PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, chronic adjustment disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and sleep disturbances were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating from October 22, 2018. The ED issue is still pending and has not been rated compensably.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, plantar fasciitis, chronic headache disorder, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and low back disorder are all granted. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since November 2, 2016. The appeal was denied as the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding PTSD, do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and his acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA will seek additional information from federal records repositories, obtain updated treatment records, and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, an increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU are also being considered.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD, service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to TDIU has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date has been appropriately assigned as May 24, 2017, the date of her claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is granted effective September 12, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a non-initial disability rating of 50 percent, and he is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of January 30, 2007, but not earlier, for service connection for a right knee disability has been granted. The Board also remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's claims including service connection for psychiatric disabilities and rating for his knees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no evidence showing he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 2, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his left eye disability and PTSD are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical examinations will be required to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating in excess of this has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to inadequate VA examinations and missing private treatment records.