PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeal for PTSD due to withdrawal. The lumbar spine disability claim is granted, and the hypertension, left hand, and right hand disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from May 6, 2016 to July 1, 2021.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher, and his overall level of impairment more closely approximated a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder is granted a 50% evaluation from June 11, 2014 to February 5, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to reassess the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, as his condition may have worsened since the last evaluation. The rating assigned and effective date remain pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective June 8, 2018. The Board found the severity of his symptoms to be more closely aligned with a 70 percent rating than a higher one.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective June 24, 2013.,TDIU benefits are granted from June 24, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete records and failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to her reported incidents of military sexual trauma during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for a combined disability rating in excess of 70 percent is dismissed, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU prior to April 16, 2019.

The Board found that the Veteran's incarceration constituted good cause for his failure to report to a scheduled VA examination, and thus the reduction in evaluation from 100 percent to 0 percent for PTSD effective October 1, 2017 was improper. The 100 percent rating is restored.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and PTSD. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus (DM), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the appeals.,A separate claim for depression was also raised but not addressed in this decision.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is granted. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia, left knee; service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression with polysubstance abuse); service connection for bilateral hearing loss; and service connection for tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence corroborating the appellant's claimed stressors. The VA will need to verify the appellant's service on ships with asbestos, his witnessing of a fellow crewmember going overboard, and any fire in the boiler room. A VA examination is required to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, effective January 16, 2018. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for anorexia nervosa, finding no evidence of its onset during active service or a causal link to service-connected PTSD and/or migraines. The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at 30% prior to August 7, 2015, and increased to 70% thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as there was no diagnosis of the condition during the Veteran's lifetime and the evidence did not support a finding that his PTSD began during active service.