PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling, but the VA determined that this rating was not permanent and total, thus denying Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressed mood are granted as service connected.,Tinnitus is granted as service connected, but the specific cause of tinnitus remains unclear.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further development, including another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and other specified disorder was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, drug abuse, left hip disability, right knee disability, and right foot pes planus were dismissed or remanded as appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, scar removal of cyst on buttocks, squamous cell carcinoma, back disability, and epididymitis have been denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) has also been denied.,However, the claim for a back disability was reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to new evidence not having been considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities as well as headaches secondary to PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, whether it began during service, and its relationship to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial higher rating for hearing loss has been withdrawn and dismissed. The Board also denied the claim for a TDIU as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, including as secondary to his PTSD, was denied. His claim for TDIU was granted due to the severity of his PTSD and related conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected back disability. The Veteran requires assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and preparing meals.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused total social and occupational impairment throughout the period on appeal, leading to a grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD prior to September 22, 2020. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been rendered moot by the grant of a 100 percent schedular evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total disability rating for his back disability has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100% since the initial rating period, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has found that remand is necessary for several reasons, including the need to obtain VA treatment records and conduct new examinations due to a material worsening of symptoms since the last VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD and headaches disability claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar disc herniation, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, do not render him unemployable prior to February 5, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is rated at 70% effective December 13, 2016. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable prior to August 8, 2020 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. Service connection for a right knee disability was remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthroscopy. The claim for PTSD was reopened, but service connection remains remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for low back and right ankle conditions is also remanded.