PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The claim for bilateral hip osteoarthritis (also claimed as steel pelvis) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to July 30, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that his current sleep apnea is related to active duty service and grants the claim. For the other issues, the Board finds new examinations are needed as the Veteran contends an increase in disability level.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was initially denied, but granted after June 25, 2018 and October 3, 2019.,For the periods prior to June 25, 2018 and from October 3, 2019, an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as due to service-connected disability (TDIU) because his service-connected disabilities, while severe, did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was denied in March 2008, but granted on March 5, 2016. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denied the request. Service connection for sinusitis was granted based on qualifying service in the Southwest Theatre of Operations.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 7, 2002 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, a lumbar spine condition, hypertension, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on evidence that suggests VA received the Veteran's claim in September or October 2002, despite no record of it being submitted.

The Veteran's representative withdrew her appeals for service connection for pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the right foot, neck pain/injury, and increased evaluations for migraines, chondropathy of the patellar region of the right knee, and PTSD with TBI.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from December 30, 2015 to January 19, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the awards of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, finding that the VA Forms signed by the Veteran on June 19, 2015 were not received by VA prior to June 20, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent from October 15, 2009 to April 16, 2019. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of subdural hematoma and total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 7, 2016.

The Board has determined that there may be outstanding VA or private treatment records relevant to the Veteran's TDIU claim and remands for their acquisition. Additionally, the Board finds the September 2020 VA examination inadequate due to its failure to address the effects of PTSD on employment. The Veteran is also requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding her PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases of headaches, a skin disorder, and PTSD are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas warranting a 70 percent rating as of April 24, 2012. The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment warranting a 100 percent rating during any period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence that the condition began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.,For PTSD with mood disorder, the Veteran's symptoms were found not severe enough to warrant ratings higher than 30 percent prior to November 9, 2016, and 50 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether they are well-grounded. The claim of type II diabetes mellitus is granted as new and material evidence was received. The claim of bilateral hearing loss is also granted as new and material evidence was received. However, the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a left ankle disability, and bilateral flat feet are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for residuals of TBI has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to December 2, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records.