PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate psychiatric examination, and further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since April 10, 2014. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 70%, effective from the date of the June 2021 decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA must obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from March 2020 to April 7, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment outside of a protected environment, given his occupational experience and educational background. With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2007. The Board granted TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for restoring separate disability ratings for PTSD, TBI, and vertigo before the Board made a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran maintains social relationships with his family and friends.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI, PTSD, asbestosis, acquired respiratory conditions, and pleural plaques. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired respiratory conditions is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and GERD. The decision is based on direct service connection due to the Veteran's in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, but he received special monthly compensation (SMC) due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them all.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and increased disability ratings for his back condition and sciatic nerve impairment due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD and the need for further examination.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD beginning December 20, 2017 is dismissed.,A 70 percent evaluation is granted prior to December 20, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, diabetes, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and tinnitus, have precluded him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. His TDIU is granted as of January 1, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and a mood disorder, NOS, is granted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective May 11, 2016, based on his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The effective date is set at January 25, 2016, as this is the earliest date that an increase in disability can be factually ascertainable.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and chronic depression has been denied by the Board. The evidence shows that her symptoms include suicidal ideations, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, continuous depression affecting her ability to function effectively, increased anger and irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, an impairment of short- and long-term memory, disturbance of motivation and mood, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. However, these symptoms are characterized as mildly to moderately severe with similar impacts on her daily social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.