PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain and degenerative spondylosis, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and the relationship between his diagnosed psychiatric conditions and military service. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to provide additional information or evidence, and a VA examination will be scheduled to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating since May 31, 2016. He is also granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is granted a 50% rating prior to December 4, 2019 and a 70% rating thereafter. A TDIU determination is granted from August 30, 2021.

The Board has determined that the appellant should be considered as a substitute party for the Veteran's pending appeals, but more information is needed to make this determination. The appeal regarding service connection and recognition of M.U.H. as the child will also need to be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 30, 2017 was denied as the effective date of the grant of TDIU is October 30, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) has been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding these issues at his July 2022 Board hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and adjudicating his TDIU claim. The AOJ will have an opportunity to consider the additional evidence in the first instance.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and remanded it for further development. The claims for service connection for a dental disability, reopening of hepatitis C claim, tinnitus rating, and hearing loss rating are also remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, needs further development and will be remanded. The VA is required to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine if his current acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, a new examination, and consideration of private medical evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD was granted. The issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for headaches, left shoulder DJD and tendonitis, osteoarthritis and chondromalacia of the left knee, and osteoarthritis and chondromalacia of the right knee are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded the case to obtain additional VA treatment records. The issue of TDIU is also being considered as part of this appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD; a low back condition, and a left leg disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his PTSD, neurocognitive impairment disorder, and TDIU claims. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed neurocognitive disorder, and provide an opinion on whether it is possible to distinguish the symptoms of his neurocognitive disorder from those of his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran had been diagnosed with PTSD related to an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain relevant treatment records and ensure compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because her employment was not considered substantially gainful, despite her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional development and examination.