PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. A TDIU based on service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service stressors. The Board requests additional records from the NPRC and JSRRC to corroborate the Veteran's reports of exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective from April 27, 2018. The Board also granted a TDIU effective October 16, 2015.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted as of May 8, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were both denied increased ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. For his bilateral hearing loss, he was rated at 10 percent based on the average decibel levels and speech discrimination scores.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to fulfill its duty to assist in obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's behavior at the time of offenses was due to disease, which could potentially raise an insanity defense.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is found to be of sufficient severity to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, consistent with his history, education, skill, and training.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied because the initial 70% rating for PTSD did not constitute an appealable issue, and thus no earlier effective date can be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% rating from April 8, 2022 to June 19, 2020 due to total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was received on August 5, 2021. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date as there is no evidence showing that it was factually ascertainable that the disability had increased in the one-year period prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bipolar disorder have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been initially rated at 70 percent, but not higher. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The appeals for initial PTSD rating and TDIU have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of evidence linking his current diagnoses to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran is also being asked to provide releases for any correctional facilities where he was incarcerated, as these records may contain relevant information.

The Veteran's use of hydrocortisone and hydrophilic creams for his hernia scar caused irreparable damage to his clothing, leading to the grant of clothing allowances for 2016. The use of clotrimazole cream was denied as there were already two clothing allowances in place.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent rating prior to December 5, 2016. From that date, the Veteran has a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The Board denied a higher than 50 percent rating and did not grant a TDIU before July 3, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD and prostate cancer. The Board finds that the Veteran cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical disabilities.