PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and voiding dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 29, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed PTSD diagnosis, including stressors from his service in South Korea. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion regarding additional stressors that may support the current PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disability (depression and PTSD), migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar strain, left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, lateral instability, post-operative patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, and surgical scars of the left knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions aggravated his substance abuse disorder, which may have contributed to his death. The VA needs to obtain an updated medical opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. Service connection for bruxism as secondary to PTSD is granted, but the Veteran's TDIU claim remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a maximum of 70 percent effective February 6, 2020.,An initial 60 percent rating for ulcerative colitis is granted.

The Board has granted TDIU with an effective date of August 21, 2020. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability and denied entitlement to an earlier effective date for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was granted, but only from September 1, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for foot disabilities and PTSD, to include adjustment disorder. The evidence does not reach equipoise as to whether these conditions had onset during or are etiologically related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for PTSD, left foot condition, right foot disability, low back disorder, right big toe disability, right leg disability, left upper jaw numbness and tingling status post oral surgery, left upper jaw infection status post oral surgery, shrapnel wound to the right eye, and erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, since September 12, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to inadequate examination and failure to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU effective April 29, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 50 percent rating prior to June 4, 2020. A higher rating of over 70 percent for the condition since that date is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder, effective February 1, 2021, as the reduction was not proper due to lack of material improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to November 30, 2016 has been granted. The claim for service connection for lumbar strain was reopened and is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for a right knee disability and for TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The remand is necessary because the previous examinations did not adequately assess the Veteran's range of motion, and his work history needs to be evaluated.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for TDIU, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for PTSD, dysthymia, and anxiety was granted. The claim for service connection for these psychiatric disorders is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.