PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also received a grant for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 50 percent and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation due to increased severity since his last examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and individual unemployability was denied. For the PTSD, a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 30, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent effective September 30, 2019 is not warranted based on his symptoms. For IU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis is rated at 10 percent, left knee meniscus tear at 20 percent, and PTSD remains rated at 30 percent prior to July 8, 2019, and 70 percent since then. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and PTSD have been denied. The cervical spine disability claim is being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an increased evaluation of PTSD and TDIU, which were dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an increased evaluation to 70 percent, but the evaluations for asbestos related pleural disease and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including an evaluation of OSA, PTSD, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is also being considered on a secondary basis due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU. The appeals were all denied due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), a low back disability, and a lung disability are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted, and his claim of service connection for a headache disability is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in various service-connected disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further review and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of anemia and skin irritation is dismissed. The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The Board found that his symptoms, including chronic sleep impairment, anxiety, hypervigilance, depression, and frequent irritability and angry outbursts, meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating, but not higher.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD and anxiety was granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and anxiety. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a stroke are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent evaluation, but no higher, with the effective date being prior to August 1, 2018 and after that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30%, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service.