PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 2, 2009, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depression was denied as there were no relevant official service department records in December 2009 that could have affected the original denial and the award of service connection was not based on these records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as a matter of law because he is currently incarcerated for felony convictions and any TDIU rating would commence during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder, based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and a link between the current disabilities and those events.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent from June 14, 2016, to May 29, 2018, for MDD and PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and Adjustment Disorder) is granted as related to his service. His degenerative arthritis of the spine is also granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective October 29, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale addressing whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations by orthopedic spine surgeons and a VA psychiatrist.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with history of cocaine and alcohol abuse is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, but the Veteran is now eligible for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for HIV/AIDS and PTSD with major depressive disorder/major depression is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD, insomnia secondary to PTSD, TBI, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine require additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his coronary artery disease and to ascertain whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since February 28, 2016. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent. The claim for TDIU prior to January 7, 2011 is granted, but it became moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent combined schedular rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, so the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and traumatic brain injury were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, and hepatitis C due to inadequate opinions in previous evaluations.

The appeals for various ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.