PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of right shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), and respiratory condition are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to worsening symptoms since his last VA examination in October 2016. He needs a new VA examination for current findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents (PACT Act, Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune) for additional development.

The claims for service connection for diabetes type II, basal cell carcinoma, and CAD are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The claim for PTSD is also being remanded as there were discrepancies between the VA examination report and the Veteran's VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent and to a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent from February 1, 2019, for service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded several other issues including service connection claims for skin cancer and residuals, sleep apnea, vision disability, acid reflux, shin splints, right upper extremity ulnar nerve neuropathy, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (now diagnosed as left shoulder strain), TDIU, and SMC.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, anxiety disorder and PTSD-like symptoms was granted with an effective date of September 22, 2009. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Unemployability) with the same effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from September 29, 2011, to August 27, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder. The Veteran was diagnosed with unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder which is now service connected.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to inadequate January 2020 VA examination report and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lower back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence from previous VA examinations. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 1, 2009, but no earlier. The effective date of the TDIU was set as the day following his last full-time employment in May 2009.

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted from February 3, 2011, to July 31, 2017.,A 100 percent rating for PTSD is granted from September 6, 2017, to January 18, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus have rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU determination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no rating was assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate retrospective medical opinion, requiring a new examination to assess PTSD severity from January 20, 2016, to April 30, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure and remanded for further examination of his PTSD and right ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision also found that the Veteran is unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a recurrent left knee disability, nasal disability, and psychiatric disability due to additional relevant VA examination and clinical documentation being incorporated into the record.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, was denied. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities were all denied secondary to the primary disability of anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Service connection for a skin disorder other than lipoma and soft tissue sarcoma (currently diagnosed as actinic keratoses) was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disability, specifically PTSD, was found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent prior to May 3, 2018. The evidence showed occupational and social impairment but did not demonstrate deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher rating.