PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of PTSD have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI injury is rated at 70 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is not compensably disabling. The Board finds that further examination is needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% rating prior to April 26, 2017. The other issues on appeal were remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD effective December 17, 2008 to November 1, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is denied from November 1, 2018 onwards. The case is remanded for further development regarding the increased rating of alopecia aerate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The TDIU was granted effective September 9, 2020.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because there was no pending claim for TDIU or an increased rating for PTSD prior to the July 27, 2015 application. The effective date of the TDIU grant is set at July 27, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective December 2019. He also receives a TDIU and SMC for prostate cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and has remanded his claims regarding service connection for OSA, which is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to July 10, 2017 is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran meets criteria for a TDIU on a schedular basis as of January 12, 2010 and grants an increased rating for his bilateral wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, balance problems and vertigo, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding his service connection claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding notification and scheduling of a VA examination for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's failure to attend his scheduled examination is noted.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD were rated at 50% prior to January 4, 2016, and denied for a higher rating. For the period between January 4, 2016 and October 9, 2019, the Veteran was granted a 70% rating but still denied for an increased rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 11, 2019. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD is granted, as the evidence shows that VA received his claims within one year of the Intent to File.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 14, 2009 for service connection of lumbar spine disability and PTSD. The Veteran's headache condition claim is denied as no formal or informal claim was filed prior to October 29, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2012 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran was found to have met the criteria for eligibility for schedular consideration of TDIU since March 26, 2011, but his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began in March 2011 if not sooner, which is more than one year prior to the filing of the TDIU application. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU cannot be awarded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there were no prior communications or claims submitted before August 9, 2019.

The Board has decided that SMC due to the need for Aid and Attendance is granted. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and vascular neurocognitive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his PTSD claim, and his entitlement to service connection for a skin condition have been dismissed as he did not file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.