PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and his PTSD rating is remanded. The left knee disability secondary to right knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, finding that his symptoms are related to his in-service stressor of witnessing a fellow servicemember's suicide.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, MDD, and tinnitus have been granted. The hearing loss claim is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, PFB, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent right ankle disability, recurrent left ankle disability, right foot hallux valgus with gout and heel spurs, and left knee Osgood Schlatter's disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's TDIU claim as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to October 7, 2021, due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD causing significant impairment in his ability to secure and maintain employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which contributed to his death.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD due to MST is granted, and the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is remanded.

The appeals for service connection of PTSD and asbestosis are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 3, 2016, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date assigned is April 19, 2017, as it is the latest of the specified dates.

The Veteran's PTSD rating has been increased to 70 percent, but the appeal is for a higher disability rating. The Board has remanded the case due to outdated VA treatment records and an old VA examination.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, PTSD, and associated conditions have been rated as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective January 21, 2022.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral cataracts and PTSD, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST), finding that all evidence supports a link between his in-service trauma and current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right great toe injury, dermatitis, bilateral foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as additional evidence was received prior to certification and transfer to the Board.

The Board has remanded the cases due to additional evidence being added to the claims file since the January 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran and their representative did not waive review of this evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.,A 70 percent rating is granted for the period from December 13, 2013, to September 28, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD and right knee socket injury are granted, but the service connection for the right knee is remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate those required for a 70 percent disability rating.