PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to their schedular ratings, and his employment history suggests he is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC for aid and attendance beginning May 25, 2016. The issue of eligibility for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot due to the award of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his PTSD, headache disorder, and hypertension claims. The TDIU claim prior to September 25, 2015 remains pending.

The Board denied an effective date prior to June 27, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD because the award was not based on new service department records received after the initial decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraines and an earlier effective date for the increased rating were denied. The case was also remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his TBI, PTSD, and memory issues.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an extraschedular rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines and denied his claim for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for right elbow medial epicondylitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), right knee joint osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, intestinal neoplasm (claimed as colon cancer), liver abscess (claimed as liver disease), and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 27, 2002 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's original claim was received on that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating effective October 31, 2019.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities from October 31, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% from May 15, 2017 to June 8, 2017. The rating for PTSD prior to that date and since then remain denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder was increased to a 70 percent rating effective January 2, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding the stressor events. The VA will conduct additional research to verify these events.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is causally related to his combat stressors.

The Veteran's TDIU appeal is remanded due to incomplete employment information and a need for further development. The Veteran must provide updated occupational history, including employer names, addresses, contact information, dates of employment, job responsibilities, accommodation details, and income information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, polysubstance use disorder, neck and back disabilities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 30 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period, based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of such condition to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, given recent worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The claims for right wrist condition, left wrist condition, and bilateral toe fungus are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea syndromes and a higher rating for PTSD due to lack of recent VA examinations.