PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for carcinoma of the anus due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation, which is the maximum available under VA guidelines. The TDIU and SMC claims were also granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, acquired psychiatric disability, migraines, and sinusitis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was denied.

The Veteran's cause of death is determined to be related to his service-connected PTSD, which was found to have been caused by the Veteran's in-service stressors. The claim for service connection for cause of death and PTSD are both granted.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for PTSD has been denied due to his failure to report for the required VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his past work history, education, training, and skills.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination, obtain updated treatment records from VA and SSA, and complete a VA Form 21-8940 detailing his employment history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination of his PTSD disability rating, TDIU eligibility, and service connection for a skin condition. The current ratings for PTSD are denied, but the Veteran may be eligible for TDIU based on his PTSD symptoms. Service connection for a skin disability remains pending.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the appellant's service-connected PTSD from October 21, 2015. The right knee disability is rated based on symptomatic residuals and osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with acquired psychiatric disabilities prior to July 8, 2015 and his TDIU claim due to incomplete records and inconsistencies regarding employment history.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to incomplete examinations and lack of clear medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral leg disability, right knee degenerative joint disease (limitation of extension), right knee instability, and PTSD. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain private medical records identified by the appellant and consider entitlement to a TDIU for the period beginning June 17, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a 70 percent evaluation, effective from December 20, 2009. Obstructive sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to obesity resulting from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection for various conditions and granting service connection for hysterectomy residuals, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), and GERD have been dismissed. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the proximate cause of his coronary artery disease. The Board grants both service connection for CAD and a TDIU based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder rating was restored to 50 percent, and the appeal for PTSD is granted. The application to reopen a claim of service connection for low back pain is also granted. However, the issues regarding an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss since May 17, 2012; service connection for a lumbar spine disorder; service connection for a cervical spine disorder; and entitlement to TDIU since May 17, 2012 are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating since January 14, 2008. The issue of entitlement to TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the effective date change.