PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits was denied as the effective dates could not be established prior to April 6, 2020.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as a presumptive disability related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and also granted secondary service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's IBS is considered a chronic multisymptom illness under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating more than 70 percent for PTSD to include alcohol use disorder from January 9, 2019 was dismissed. A 50 percent disability rating for PTSD to include alcohol use disorder prior to January 9, 2019 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and service connection for right knee disability are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining SSA records and the timing of evidence submission.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) has been reopened, but the rating for degenerative joint disease of lumbar spine with spondylosis remains remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from September 27, 2010. The respiratory condition claim was remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 70% rating from July 15, 2016. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for IHD and Atrial Fibrillation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining records from his Vet Center and VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was pending at the time of a July 2013 rating decision that awarded service connection, and due to lack of proper notice of a March 2004 statement of the case, the Board finds it appropriate to waive the timeliness of the substantive appeal. As a result, the effective date is set back to June 25, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to her assertions of in-service sexual trauma and physical injuries, as well as her chronic pain related to a Chiari malformation. Additional examinations are needed to clarify the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his PTSD with alcohol disorder and to address his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be of such severity that it prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and he has been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with dissociative symptoms and opiate use disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of these appeals.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 100 percent for the period prior to November 20, 2007. The cases of loss of fingernails due to diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 3, 2012. Additionally, the Veteran's psychiatric disability alone has also precluded her from obtaining or maintaining substantial gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD with anxiety and depression, coronary artery disease, and ischemic heart disease have been denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been granted a higher rating of 40 percent from July 9, 2006 to July 21, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD with major depression and alcohol use disorder, are granted at a 100 percent evaluation from June 11, 2016, to June 17, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is granted based on evidence showing that symptoms began during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 19, 2019, for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he was unemployable prior to this date.