PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD and TDIU has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for initial review.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD was denied because her PTSD alone did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.,The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was also denied as she is currently employed and does not have permanent and total disability from a nonservice-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU due to incomplete development, including the need for a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of his service-connected mental health condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 6, 2009. The Board found that the disability is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of a greater than 10 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has granted nonservice-connected pension benefits from June 2, 2009 to August 18, 2017. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and service connection for psychiatric disorder (including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) and residuals of traumatic brain injury are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hypertension prior to December 31, 2015 and service connection for hepatitis B has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board acknowledges the Veteran’s in-service noise exposure but notes that his hearing was within normal limits while in service and inconsistent reports of tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximated by the current 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 70 percent from January 12, 2012 to February 13, 2020. The claim for TDIU is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were consistent with a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder. The case will be returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and eye conditions, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since June 25, 2013.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD incurred in or resulting from active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, and he is now rated at 100 percent. The appeal to reopen the left shoulder disability claim is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate evidence and will require a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether obesity serves as an intermediate step between his sleep apnea and service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle scar, caused him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 3, 2012.