PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus were granted, with the Board finding that both conditions had their onset during service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating, effective December 22, 2004. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU effective January 1, 2009 due to the service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep disorder and its relationship to service-connected PTSD. The VA will need to conduct a new examination or obtain additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran has a separate sleep disorder, whether it is caused by service, and if so, whether it was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA regulations.,Service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder is granted, and the Board finds that his lay testimony establishes the occurrence of a claimed in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. The claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and SMC at the housebound rate are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected conditions. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU as it exceeds the schedular requirement of 60% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and records related to his CWT and/or VA vocational rehabilitation program.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating from July 27, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU due to concerns about the adequacy of previous VA examinations, and to obtain additional medical records. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation. The claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate efforts in obtaining VA treatment records from 1994 to June 2001, as well as from August 2020 to September 2020. The Veteran's claim will be further developed before being reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right chondromalacia patella, did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI and left leg disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 25, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, knees, left hand, and wrist, right knee, left knee, left hand wrist degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, preclude substantially gainful employment from June 17, 2008. Therefore, a TDIU is granted for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and MDD will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.