PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to verify his employment history and determine when he became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.,A higher rating for PTSD remains denied, with the current disability rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to November 23, 2021 and at a 40 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent prior to December 14, 2021 and at a 70 percent rating thereafter.,The Board finds that the evidence does not support higher ratings for either condition during any of the periods on appeal.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for PTSD, service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, and service connection for a back condition claimed as secondary to the knees. The reasons include unresolved stressor verification, incomplete consideration of STRs in some cases, and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating or TDIU, and the case is remanded to consider these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his PTSD is at least as likely as not related to active service, including a military sexual assault.

The Veteran does not have sleep apnea, but has insomnia which is a symptom of her already service-connected PTSD, thyroid condition, and tinnitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD and anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that there was no evidence showing that the current non-service-connected disability (OSA) is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded due to duty to assist errors. The VA must obtain updated audiometry reports from March 2018 and November 2017, as well as private treatment records from Drs. TL and JP.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to January 1, 2020. From January 1, 2020 onwards, the evidence shows that his disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 7, 2012 for a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and cocaine-use disorder. This decision is based on evidence showing increased severity in symptoms since that date.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted for the period prior to June 8, 2018. An initial evaluation higher than 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is denied. The appeal regarding TDIU prior to December 14, 2018 is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for PTSD as it was granted in a December 2021 rating decision, rendering the appeal moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone or in combination, did not preclude her from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's employment conditions from January 23, 2007 were consistent with those of a marginal or protected employment situation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from January 23, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 27, 2013 for tinnitus is denied as there was no communication prior to that date indicating intent to apply for service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 27, 2006 for psychiatric disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder) is dismissed as a matter of law due to the finality of the April 2007 rating decision awarding service connection and assigning a noncompensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 21, 2014 for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for multiple actinic keratoses and melanoma is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) prior to January 31, 2017 was denied because he did not meet the criteria for SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the denial of TDIU.