PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating from September 23, 2020, exclusive of the period from July 8, 2021, to September 1, 2021. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about the appropriate disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The rating for hemorrhoids remains noncompensable, but the issue of entitlement to a higher rating is remanded. Service connection for back disability and PTSD are also remanded due to insufficient evidence. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are granted service connection, while his hypertension, right knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 6, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking, or mood, but not total social and occupational impairment prior to August 7, 2017. From August 7, 2017, to March 1, 2021, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and residuals of TBI is rated at 70 percent, effective May 14, 2014. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete opinions and need for additional development. The issues include psychiatric disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD and lumbosacral strain were denied.,His claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for sleep apnea is remanded. The appeal for TDIU and earlier effective date for PTSD on CUE basis has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board does not find any evidence supporting a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for PTSD and Total Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to conflicting evidence in the record regarding whether the Veteran has PTSD. The Board finds that an additional examination or addendum is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 13, 2021 did not cause total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU due to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted a 100% disability rating, and his tension headaches are granted a 50% disability rating. The award of SMC at the housebound rate from November 20, 2012 has been granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, needs further evaluation due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety, depression, other substance use disorder, and PTSD), and TDIU due to lack of a diagnosed disability in service.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating, as his diastolic pressure was predominantly below 110 and systolic pressure below 200. His PTSD symptoms were found to be more closely approximating a 70 percent rating.,Service connection for dizziness secondary to hypertension has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and to determine its severity from November 2009 to the present.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30%, and the Board denied a higher rating, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50%.