PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he has been employed during the period on appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for skin disability.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 15, 2012, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, consideration of new evidence, and further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to March 14, 2016 was denied as his PTSD did not result in functional impairment that precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and tinnitus, as well as reopened previously denied claims. Service connection is established on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's reported symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from December 3, 2015 to May 23, 2022. A TDIU was also granted from December 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and a new VA examination for PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The claim for service connection for a neck condition is remanded. The claims for PTSD, right knee condition, and left knee condition are also remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating for various conditions, including PTSD with alcohol and marijuana use disorders, shrinkage with fluid on the brain, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with secondary substance abuse in full sustained remission is granted at a 70 percent evaluation prior to December 20, 2018.

The Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities has been recognized, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s)(1).

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left wrist scars, to include on an extraschedular basis, was denied due to the lack of qualifying scar area and no associated underlying soft tissue damage or instability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder was also denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. A new examination is needed to determine if a current diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disorder exists and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been increased to a 70 percent rating effective August 1, 2022. The Board found that his symptoms have worsened and now meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, TBI, a back disorder, a right knee disorder, degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee, PFB, and bilateral foot skin disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's mental disorder symptoms prior to October 12, 2020, more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. A 70 percent rating for the period prior to October 12, 2020, is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, which may affect his employability. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder due to MST has been reopened. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the relationship between her current psychiatric disorders and military service. Her claim for a scalp condition is also remanded.