PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to August 27, 2018. The TDIU claim for the same period is remanded due to need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other specified depressive disorder, finding that there was no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied all other issues on appeal.,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at a 70 percent evaluation from May 4, 2011 to June 24, 2015 due to significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to December 30, 2015. The decision also denied a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, has prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of September 14, 2001, for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal for secondary service connection for migraines to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear evidence regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, and a comprehensive physical and mental health examination will be conducted to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a traumatic brain injury due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding the evidence in approximate balance regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated total social and occupational impairment for the entire period on appeal, resulting in a grant of a 100% rating for PTSD beginning July 24, 2018. The TDIU was granted from March 25, 2013 to April 12, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for his left knee disability are being remanded. The reduction of the 10 percent rating for the residuals of left knee meniscectomy effective January 1, 2019 is restored.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding new and material evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except TDIU and DEA benefits, which have been granted with earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to inadequate discussion of TBI residuals and possible applicability of a separate rating under Diagnostic Code 8045. The Board must ensure substantial compliance with the August 2020 Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) by addressing all relevant symptoms, including vertigo and syncope.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and gunshot wounds to the hip and leg, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative balance as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was incurred during his military service. The benefit-of-the-doubt rule is applied, and therefore, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and a depressive disorder, secondary to TBI, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his psychiatric disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and headaches associated with TBI were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his left ankle condition and right knee strain are both rated below the maximum allowed. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as there was no formal or informal claim prior to February 9, 2018.