PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability was reopened and granted. Service connection for right eye retinal condition is also granted.,An increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, effective from August 2, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of schizophrenia. The Veteran's stressor claim is also pending.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation from May 15, 2009.,An effective date of October 31, 2011 for the grant of TDIU based on service-connected PTSD was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the threshold schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to April 5, 2019. However, he has been able to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

Your appeal for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and related symptoms, including depression and suicidal/homicidal ideation, did not warrant an initial evaluation higher than 30 percent prior to December 10, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD was already rated at the maximum (100%) during the appeal period, so his claim for an increased evaluation is dismissed. The Veteran does not qualify for special monthly compensation as he is not housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions alone do not render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left foot stress fracture, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have consistently shown trouble with sleeping, irritability/anger outbursts, detachment/avoidance, violence, severe memory loss, suicidal ideations, and hallucinations. Therefore, the Board finds that an increased rating of 100 percent is warranted for the entire rating period on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions alone preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since January 27, 2011. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the issues of higher staged disability ratings for residuals of a right foot injury, service connection for a sinus disability and an eye infection, service connection for a low back disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and PTSD, as well as TDIU are inextricably intertwined. Therefore, these matters have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability and PTSD due to a lack of adequate statements of reasons or bases, as well as failure to fulfill its heightened duty to assist in obtaining alternative evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the duty to assist and finality of a previous rating decision. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD and its impact on his employment. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine this.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since August 11, 2015. The initial rating of 30 percent from October 17, 2012 to August 10, 2015 remains in effect.