PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The claim to reopen service connection for PTSD is granted, and the claim for service connection for PTSD itself is also granted. The claims for service connection of other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and various knee and foot conditions, effectively preclude him from all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for beneficiary travel payment was not received within the required 30-day period after completing his February 28, 2017 travel to the Iowa City VA Healthcare System. As a result, his claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, tinnitus, left wrist disability, and hearing loss in the left ear, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for updated VA treatment records, as well as a new VA examination for PTSD. The issues of rating PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his hearing loss and hepatitis C claims. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, but the issue of increased rating for hepatitis C is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified mood disorder are granted as service-connected, with multiple in-service stressors contributing to the conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the issues were withdrawn during a personal hearing.,Issues such as right knee disorder, left knee disorder, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, upper and lower extremity neuropathies, nerve spasms in back, foot nerve spasms, fatigue, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and TDIU have all been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals during a personal hearing.

The Veteran's request to reopen his finally disallowed claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. A rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is granted, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to October 7, 2019 did not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating. From October 7, 2019 to August 19, 2020, his PTSD symptoms met the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has not manifested to a degree that warrants an increased rating beyond the currently assigned 50 percent since November 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 18, 2015. The decision denies entitlement to TDIU based on the schedular rating and lack of additional service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for PTSD and neck disability, as well as the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine was found to have manifested within a year of his final period of active duty, and service connection is granted. The claims for PTSD, major depressive disorder, diverticulitis, right kidney cyst, GERD, right foot disability, and left foot disability are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 24, 2013. The rating is granted prior to this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there is no current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or another disability manifested by fatigue separate and distinct from an already service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to November 8, 2017 caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total social and occupational impairment. The rating of 70 percent is granted for this period.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression), and a lumbar spine disability. The remand includes obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.