PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to February 11, 2020 and 50 percent since that date. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including heart disorder, various types of peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since January 21, 2004. The appeal for a higher rating was denied. A TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) benefit was granted as of January 21, 2004.

The Veteran's post-concussion, migraine, and tension headache disability is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran's PTSD is granted a permanent total disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present a disability picture indicating that TDIU is warranted. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against her claim for a TDIU prior to January 20, 2015.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the claim of service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not supported by medical records, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if she meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and whether it is related to her military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 1, 2011 did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran’s symptoms from March 1, 2011 to July 14, 2016 more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from March 1, 2011 to July 14, 2016 caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The issues of an increased disability rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar, status-post right hernia repairs, or for his bilateral hearing loss, right knee scar, tinnitus, PTSD, status-post right knee replacement, or chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with polysubstance dependence in remission is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and requests from the Veteran and his attorney.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, but has caused significant work and social impairment. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, an increased rating, and TDIU have been denied due to failure to attend VA examinations without showing good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records, particularly regarding whether the Veteran requires additional education for a Ph.D. in psychology to overcome employment barriers related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or obesity.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating, and TDIU is granted. The increased rating for PTSD from 50% to 70% is granted, but the request for a higher rating in excess of 70% beginning September 5, 2019 is denied. Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to discrepancies in diagnoses and need for verification of in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to new evidence received after the January 2018 statement of the case. The Veteran had provided only page 1 of 4 of a private treatment record from Kaiser Permanente, which noted his health problems including erythromelalgia as a diagnosis for his skin condition. Additional treatment records are needed and a new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of PTSD.

The appeal for PTSD service connection is dismissed as the Board has already granted it. The appeal for a higher initial rating for prostate cancer is also dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and has determined that new evidence supports this reopening. However, the Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) as there is no diagnosis of these conditions under DSM-V criteria.