PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence indicating a worsening of PTSD symptoms, and an updated VA examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 5, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, and PTSD have been reopened. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims, but further development is needed before the merits of the claims can be addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability and PTSD, as well as the eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to incomplete records. The Appellant's complete service personnel and treatment records need to be obtained from appropriate sources.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment since July 21, 2016. The Board granted a 100% disability rating for PTSD effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetic sensory-motor peripheral neuropathy have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since June 30, 2013. The Board has granted the TDIU claim for this period.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing PTSD did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during active service beyond normal progression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to military service. The Veteran also needs VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new symptoms.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and its onset during service. The Veteran must be presumed sound at entry, and the burden shifts to the government to rebut this presumption with clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed service.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 70 percent on and after August 18, 2014, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not rated higher than noncompensable (0 percent).,Service connection for CTS of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity, restless leg syndrome of the left lower extremity, and restless leg syndrome of the right lower extremity are all denied.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric condition, including major depression and PTSD, is granted a 50 percent rating. Ratings of 20 percent are granted for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Right ear hearing loss remains at Level I.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim, has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claim for entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from September 29, 2014. The Veteran's PTSD is found to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to February 28, 2016 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records, complete an updated VA Form 21-8940, and provide income statements. She is also required to undergo an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for PTSD has been granted. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the rating for PTSD has been dismissed as they have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD from December 21, 2011 to August 22, 2018 was denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.