PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded three issues: whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's request for a higher rating for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the former being linked to herbicide exposure during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD with paranoid personality and depression was granted a 70% disability rating prior to March 16, 2018. The RO did not consider the December 2015 VA examiner's finding of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 25, 2012. The Board has denied an increased rating for PTSD and remanded the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E services due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the threshold requirements of having an employment handicap, despite his master’s degree and over 20 years of experience in healthcare.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye, lower back, neck, and left leg conditions due to their withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, Barrett's esophagus condition, and high blood pressure or hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus did not render him unemployable prior to April 18, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran had some work limitations due to his disabilities but could still maintain full-time employment in certain types of jobs.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD due to military sexual trauma, as there are insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder as there is no separate and distinct diagnosis of an anxiety disorder that is not related to his already service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for further consideration, including a TDIU issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, particularly related to his periods of honorable service. The Veteran needs to provide lay statements about any in-service assault during his honorable service period from 1976-1977 and 1981-1984, and a VA examination is required.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to July 15, 2019, was rated at 70 percent due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, as his service was within the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 22, 2018 is remanded due to the failure of the AOJ to refer her case to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

Your claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed because you are already receiving a 100 percent schedular rating and special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's rating for his psychiatric disability was denied in excess of 50% prior to January 30, 2018 and in excess of 70% thereafter. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed sufficient for a TDIU determination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Major Depression, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his documented in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating from July 30, 2010 to August 19, 2015. A higher rating of 100 percent for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was rated at 30 percent from July 9, 2010 to July 31, 2012. From August 1, 2012 to May 14, 2014, the rating increased to 50 percent. After that date, a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, as they result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.