PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for PTSD. As a result, there are no remaining issues for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 100 percent, and thus his claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran does not have a current disability and that any diagnosed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is granted as service connected. The evidence supports the claim that his current diagnosis is related to events he experienced while in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric conditions. The VA must obtain updated treatment records, attempt to locate missing personnel records, and provide the Veteran with an examination to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 1, 2009. For the period from December 2, 2009, he is in receipt of a 100 percent disability rating and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), which renders the issue of entitlement to a TDIU moot.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records that may provide additional insight into his condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective February 3, 2009. Prior to that date, the rating was 70%. The decision grants a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically a left thigh muscle injury, a left thigh scar, and a left corneal abrasion. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD as due to service connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic myelogenous leukemia, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD due to new evidence and other issues. The Veteran will need to provide additional records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board found that the discontinuance of VR&E services in May 2015 was proper and that the Veteran did not qualify for independent living services at that time.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to the veteran's conditions, including heart disabilities, psychiatric disorders, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies, and retinopathy. The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD ratings and TDIU prior to the effective dates of their respective determinations are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from August 12, 2013, to June 3, 2014, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with disc herniation at L5/S prior to May 16, 2016, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 16, 2016. The claims are also remanded due to requests for the curriculum vitae of examiners who conducted recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service in Southwest Asia, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and shoulder disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a Correia-compliant examination.