PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective November 19, 2011. Effective August 16, 2015, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating, effective from the date of his claim. The Veteran's HIV is also granted service connection, and he is granted new and material evidence to reopen his heart disability claim.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his psychiatric disability from September 27, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions alone do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine conditions and service connection for a bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding service connection for lead poisoning residuals and acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to new evidence submitted by him.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD, are granted as they are related to his service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD, as his last examination was over three years ago and he asserts worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that they do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.,For his left shoulder disability, the Veteran was initially awarded a 10 percent rating in March 2007 and later increased to 20 percent in August 2020. The Board concluded that he does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are causally related to an in-service personal assault.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing records, including personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders need to be evaluated again by a new examiner who should consider all relevant stressors and prior diagnoses.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% disability rating effective May 29, 2015. The lower back condition and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a growth on the back of his neck and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided do not address whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused by or aggravated by exposure to herbicide agents during service, and if so, whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD or diabetes mellitus. The case is therefore being remanded for further clarification.

The Veteran was granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD for the entire period on appeal.,A TDIU was also granted prior to March 9, 2017. The issue of a TDIU beginning March 9, 2017 is dismissed as the Veteran has been in receipt of a schedular 100 percent rating since that date.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, effective June 23, 2011.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, and colon polyps have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection is September 26, 2019.