PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder strain, and PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the specified periods.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Denver Health Hospital on December 3, 2009. The decision found that there was no indication from the record that the Veteran's symptoms were severe in nature and posed a serious threat to his life and health.

The Veteran's PTSD improved significantly, resulting in reduced impairment and a lower rating from 70% to 50%. The reduction was based on the improvement shown by his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, as his current disability level does not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent, effective June 21, 2016. The PTSD rating remains unchanged at 50 percent since February 27, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied as it was filed after the July 2005 rating decision, which granted service connection and assigned a September 1, 2004 effective date. The Veteran did not appeal this decision regarding the effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective November 28, 2018. The hearing loss remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including CAD, PTSD, DM II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 26, 2011. The Board granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, finding that her combined disability rating did not meet the schedular requirements and that an extraschedular rating was not warranted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for arthritis of both feet is granted. The initial rating for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for amputation of the left great toe and hammer toe deformity, toes two through five (secondary to amputation) was granted. The initial rating for PTSD, nerve problem prior to March 16, 2016, is also granted at a 70 percent level.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating for the period prior to August 12, 2020, and an increased rating of 70 percent effective from that date. The claim for TDIU has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the original decision and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% prior to June 8, 2015 and granted a 50% rating from that date onwards. The left leg neuropathy rating remains unchanged. TDIU benefits were granted for the period after June 8, 2015.

The Board has granted the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder and PTSD, but has remanded the issue of determining whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, Guillain Barre Syndrome, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and a throat disorder have been granted. The cases of obstructive sleep apnea and a throat disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be reviewed with additional information.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD to include a bipolar disability, and a low sperm count. The appeal for vision impairment was also dismissed.