PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's schizophrenia and PTSD are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DDD of the lumbar spine, coronary artery disease, tinnitus, radiculopathy, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental health condition, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and opioid dependency, finding no evidence that these conditions were caused by an in-service event or injury.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a temporary total rating, and right knee and low back disorders have been dismissed. The appeal involving the issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30% prior to July 2, 2012 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since July 2, 2012 and denied for a higher rating.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his death was not caused or contributed substantially to by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, and he has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent. Therefore, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from September 27, 2008 to January 23, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and are related to his military service. The other psychiatric conditions were not found to be directly related to service.

The Board has decided that a TDIU is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The decision is remanded for further action including obtaining outstanding medical records, clarifying part-time employment history, and seeking documents related to any applications for SSDI or unemployment insurance benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with GAD was dismissed because the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating, effective from the date of this decision. Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death, endocarditis, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD are granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder osteoarthritis, and CAD, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent throughout the entire period of the claim. The Board has also remanded for further development regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability), DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II), and lumbar spine disability are not granted.,Service connection for leukemia is remanded.,Service connection for COPD is remanded.,Service connection for AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder (claimed as arthritis of the left shoulder) is remanded.,Service connection for urinary frequency, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII with diabetic ulcer of the right foot or service-connected lumbar spine disability, and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII or service-connected lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 30 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability); service connection for DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II); and service connection for lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for CAD associated with hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for lipoma tumor on the spine is remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to ensure the decision on the Veteran's appeal of the initial rating assigned for PTSD is fully informed, including obtaining SSA records and a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran’s disability. The issues of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 29, 2016 are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% and his TBI residuals are also rated at 70%, but the Board denied a higher rating for PTSD. The decision on TBI residuals remains pending as it was granted.