PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal regarding a disability rating for major depressive disorder with PTSD, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding two alleged stressors from April and August 1958. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but without total impairment from January 24, 2016 to May 17, 2017.,From May 18, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to September 9, 2022. The Board found the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is remanded due to the addition of new evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, stomach ulcers (also claimed as abnormal z-line), low back condition (claimed as spinal cord injury), acid reflux, sleep apnea, depression (also claimed as insomnia), atrial fibrillation (also claimed as aortic aneurysm), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (also claimed as insomnia, anxiety, nightmares).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance) were denied. The Board found that the effective dates could not be earlier than April 17, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since July 29, 2012. TDIU is granted effective that date.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied. The appeal for a TDIU rating was withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, leading to the grant of service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure. However, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran was able to maintain employment at a university despite his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and foot conditions. The Board found the evidence did not support a TDIU prior to August 16, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation before March 27, 2019. After that date, his non-PTSD disabilities also did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its previous decisions regarding the Veteran's PTSD ratings. The claims are now back before the Board for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability because of service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations have been remanded due to the need for further development. The issues include seeking service connection for speech problems, evaluating limitation of extension of the right elbow, obtaining a higher evaluation for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and determining an appropriate evaluation for migraine headaches associated with PTSD and TBI.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for subluxation, right shoulder. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since October 11, 2018. A TDIU was granted prior to April 21, 2021, and SMC based on the housebound rate was granted from November 21, 2021. The higher ratings for PTSD remain pending.