PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was increased to 30 percent in November 2016. The Board has now remanded the case due to new evidence indicating that his PTSD may have worsened since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and IHD were not rated higher than the current levels, with some issues needing further evaluation. The hearing loss issue was also remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxiety, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-5 criteria and insufficient evidence linking the disorders to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with residual schizophrenia is denied as the effective date is already set at July 22, 1969. The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with residual schizophrenia is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, and the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to February 22, 2021, and from February 22, 2021, is not rated higher than the current 30 percent and 70 percent disability ratings respectively.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity does not meet or exceed a 10 percent rating as there are no symptoms such as constant pain, severe intermittent pain, moderate paresthesias and/or dysesthesias, or moderate numbness without muscle atrophy. The current 10 percent disability rating is maintained.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity does not meet or exceed a 10 percent rating as there are no symptoms such as constant pain, severe intermittent pain, moderate paresthesias and/or dysesthesias, or moderate numbness without muscle atrophy. The current 10 percent disability rating is maintained.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, as they did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to June 21, 2016, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were more closely approximated by a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need to verify the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Veteran's service-connected burn scars and PTSD are granted effective from June 3, 1993 for the former and June 14, 2016 for the latter.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, effective June 22, 2017. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of increased severity within one year prior to the claim date.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and denied service connection for OSA, PTSD, and emphysema. The lower back disability is found to be related to service due to documented in-service treatment and current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD and a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining relevant private treatment records and providing a full accounting of his work history.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100% rating.

The Board has decided that the VA examiner's opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's OSA are inadequate, and thus remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any gastrointestinal disability, including IBS. The Veteran's service records show complaints related to stomach or intestinal trouble during active duty and National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective January 12, 2012. The decision resolves doubt in the Veteran's favor by finding that his September 28, 2013 submission of a copy of a letter from his former employer terminating his employment based on his inability to return to work constitutes new and material evidence in relationship to the claim for increased rating for PTSD adjudicated in the November 2012 rating decision.