PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective June 7, 2021. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Right Chest Scar, and Hypertension) have rendered him unemployable since November 1, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU for the period beginning July 6, 2018, but remanded to determine if he was unemployable before that date.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to December 3, 2020. The Veteran's L1-L2 disc protrusion without any impingement was granted a 20 percent initial rating prior to December 3, 2020 and a 40 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD throughout the appeal period, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to a verified in-service personal assault.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that it is directly related to the veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to March 23, 2016. The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for this period.

The Board has determined that the VA did not comply with its previous remand directives and has ordered further development, including obtaining treatment records from the Tampa VAMC and SSA records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are also to be considered in determining if any psychiatric conditions are aggravated by them.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to October 1, 2018, and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent from that date, for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD; entitlement to a TDIU effective date prior to October 1, 2018; and eligibility for DEA under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of all relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a lumbar spine disability, as well as his TDIU claim, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in any of these areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected Parkinson's disease, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder. The case is remanded to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 11, 2021. From November 11, 2021 onwards, the issue of TDIU is moot due to SMC at the (s) level.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD may have contributed to or aggravated his erectile dysfunction, and thus grants the claim for service connection of erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD.

The appeal for an effective date prior to December 5, 2017 for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease is dismissed. The appeals for initial ratings in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and coronary artery disease are remanded. The appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and opinions to determine the service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, fibromyalgia, CFS, IBS, and headaches. The appeals are remanded due to the Veteran's failure to report for prior VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and alcohol abuse disorder due to insufficient evidence or unclear diagnoses.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee disorders and bilateral foot disorders are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The Veteran's PTSD and respiratory disability increased rating claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD rating appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of the severity and scope of her service-connected PTSD. The TDIU appeal is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance claims are both granted due to service-connected disabilities.