PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to reconsider the Veteran's earlier claims prior to January 1996 under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c) with respect to VA's constructive receipt of service department records.

The Board denied the earlier effective date for service connection of cause of death due to lack of evidence, and the current effective date is October 15, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating and denied an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent. For the TDIU claim, the Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for schizophrenia, adjustment disorder, depression, and PTSD due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's effective date for adding his spouse and two children as dependents to his compensation award is denied because the required information was not provided within one year of notification.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and skin disability due to exposure to herbicide agents, including obtaining additional VA records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bullous pemphigoid.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol use disorder prior to February 16, 2012. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for complex sleep apnea and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's auditory acuity schedule. The Veteran's CAD remains at 60 percent disabling, with no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure or limited workload resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. The claim for an effective date earlier than June 26, 2014 for the increased PTSD rating is denied due to lack of factual ascertainability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for complex sleep apnea and tinnitus have been reopened due to new and material evidence. His hearing loss remains at a noncompensable rating as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's auditory acuity schedule. The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent disabling, with no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure or limited workload resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. The claim for an effective date earlier than June 26, 2014 for the increased PTSD rating is denied due to lack of factual ascertainability.

The Veteran was granted a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective January 5, 2012. Prior to that date, he had already been awarded a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, and diabetes, have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to January 22, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and attempt to verify any in-service stressors. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to active service.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was granted at 100% effective January 8, 2018. The issue of service connection for cirrhosis of the liver secondary to PTSD is remanded due to reasonable doubt in its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand directives. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, need further evaluation and opinion.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety adjustment disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD with anxious distress features, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for migraine headaches is also granted.

The Board has not fully addressed the Veteran's in-service stressors and has not obtained a VA medical opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded three issues: an earlier effective date for a 70% PTSD rating, a higher PTSD disability rating, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for PTSD, clarification on his employment status, and an addendum opinion regarding the impact of his workplace accommodations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a skin condition, vertigo, and PTSD. The Board dismissed these issues as the Veteran indicated satisfaction with the current decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the period prior to July 12, 2016.