PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was granted at 30 percent, but he contends his condition warrants a higher rating. The Board finds additional development is needed as the Veteran has presented evidence that his symptoms have worsened since his January 2015 VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating from July 28, 2015 to December 3, 2015. From February 1, 2016 onwards, his PTSD symptoms were rated at 70%. The Board found that these ratings adequately reflected his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to credible evidence of a sexual assault during active duty, which was deemed to have occurred before midnight on the date of discharge.

The Board denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as there is no competent evidence of a current PTSD disability or any other acquired psychiatric disorder at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was restored to a 100% rating from March 1, 2017. The reduction in rating from 100% to 70% was found to be improper due to the evidence showing actual improvement but not sustained under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as they were consistent with the current 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a lower back condition was granted. His claim for PTSD with symptoms of depression and anxiety was denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating for PTSD is dismissed, and her claims for service connection for right and left knee arthritis are remanded.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than September 17, 2013, for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD and for the grant of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is not warranted. The Veteran's claim for increased PTSD was received more than one year after the initial decision, and it was not factually ascertainable that he met the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation in the year prior to his claim. For TDIU, an additional VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities result in functional impairment and affect his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear payment details and potential issues with accrued benefits. The AOJ needs to confirm if retroactive payments were received by the Appellant and provide her bank statements for clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus was dismissed. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his August 2018 hearing. His claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU was denied because no timely substantive appeal was received within the required timeframe.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim of PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU were denied as there was no evidence of worsening within the one-year look-back period, and the effective dates assigned are correct.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disability was denied in April 1990 due to lack of evidence. The Board has now reopened the claim and remanded it for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a PTSD examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to November 14, 2017, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding a higher rating after that date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as there are no prior claims found in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to September 11, 2012.