PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's disability rating for anxiety disorder, previously evaluated as PTSD, was restored to a 50% rating effective June 1, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% from August 12, 2003 to July 22, 2004 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from July 23, 2004 to July 26, 2006 and denied a higher rating.

The Board has restored a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, effective July 14, 2015. The evidence does not support improvement in the Veteran's condition at that time.

The Board has combined and expanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression to include any acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim is remanded due to new evidence received in July 2014, allowing a VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss of the right ear, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD), and low back disability are all granted. However, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for his low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD, left knee disability, spine disability, and plantar fasciitis. The current evaluations are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a withdrawal of the appeals on service connection for PTSD, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on an in-service stressor.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder and earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, cervical disorder, left ear hearing loss, and knee disorders. The Veteran's mental health records need to be obtained, as well as additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches prior to May 23, 2016 was granted. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on her PTSD and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for nonservice-connected pension. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, and he is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to June 22, 2016, and at 50 percent thereafter. The Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted due to the worsening of his symptoms since the last examination in September 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the service connection claims for sleep apnea and PTSD, as well as the effective date claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was granted. Her rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was restored to 40 percent effective September 24, 2013, after a reduction from 40 percent in July 2018. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from September 27, 2017. The Board also remanded the case for consideration of extraschedular TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues, including high cholesterol, melanoma, hypothyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disability, heart disability, lumbar degenerative arthritis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU.