PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD resulted in occupational and social impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The earlier effective dates for PTSD and tinnitus are denied as there were no prior, unadjudicated claims.,PTSD was granted with an initial rating from April 17, 2015 to May 30, 2018, and a higher rating than 10 percent for tinnitus is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs, including bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication management, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.,The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence of a need for aid and attendance that meet some of the required criteria and not all must be met to warrant the benefit. The Veteran's spouse also requires aid and attendance due to her disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a vision disorder, and residuals of a shrapnel wound, claiming as a right leg injury. The reasons include inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding his military service and mental health history.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of December 22, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for a back disability is granted, and service connection for the same is also granted. A 70 percent rating for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is granted from November 16, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete VA treatment records. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his employment, which precludes him from meeting the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for various conditions, and a TDIU. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD since August 12, 2016, but remanded other issues including service connection for DM2 and HTN, IBS, CFS, fibromyalgia, and OSA.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied. The earliest possible effective date provided by law is December 22, 2008.

The Board has determined that another VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board denied an increased rating as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The claim for PTSD was not granted due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding it is at least as likely as not that the condition resulted from personal assault during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and service connection for a lumbar spine disability have been dismissed. The claim for service connection of a breathing condition is remanded due to the need for clarification on when asthma manifested.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has a personality disorder, which may affect his PTSD symptoms. Additionally, the TDIU claim will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration prior to June 2, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing an addendum VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.