PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, dermatitis, COPD, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and related conditions prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, necessitating a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and will consider all evidence of record when readjudicating the claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's PTSD, effective October 2007. The decision is based on the Veteran's symptoms of flattened affect, impairment of short-and-long-term memory, impaired judgment, and difficulty in maintaining work and social relationships.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30% rating prior to February 28, 2019. The claim for TDIU prior to this date was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder, the case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD and for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The case requires further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's PTSD and other diagnosed mental health disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability and PTSD have been granted. The claim for bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU due to inadequate examination reports, need for additional development of records, and potential unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed because the Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have increased since his last VA examination in June 2016, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not result in total occupational and social impairment, but he experienced significant functional limitations. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent.,For the left knee strain, there is no evidence of compensable limitation beyond the minimum required by Diagnostic Code 5260 (limitation of flexion).,Similarly, for right knee strain, there is no evidence of compensable limitation beyond the minimum required by Diagnostic Code 5261 (limitation of extension).,The Veteran's hypothyroidism does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7903.,There is insufficient evidence to support service connection for COPD or Sleep Apnea.,Service connection for Chloracne was denied due to lack of nexus between current condition and in-service exposure.,No new evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for skin disability.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for skin disorder and PTSD, as well as service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for a right wrist disability was granted with a 10% rating effective August 17, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically claimed as PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and no diagnosed psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a headache disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The reasons include unclear medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective January 30, 2014. The Veteran also meets the schedular requirement for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from May 29, 2014.