PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 14, 2011 are remanded due to the need to locate missing records and determine when the claims were filed.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 31, 2012 and June 18, 2013 are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD have been rated at 70 percent effective June 19, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.,For accrued benefits purposes, a higher than 20 percent rating for residuals of Muscle Group II injury involving the right chest wall is not granted. The current rating remains at 20 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 50 percent since May 9, 2012, and a higher than 50 percent rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with neurocognitive disorder prior to January 19, 2017 and from January 19, 2017 to January 29, 2020 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure prior to January 20, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as due to herbicide agent exposure was granted under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Parkinson's disease was remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure from January 20, 2017 was remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease and/or service-connected Parkinson's disease, and as being due to herbicide exposure was remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 9, 2017 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and hypothyroidism) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The appeal of a higher rating for PTSD has been dismissed because no argument was made by the appellant and the issue was deemed abandoned.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for mental health disorders and diabetes mellitus, type II due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is being evaluated again, and his diabetes may be related to his diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from February 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. However, the Board denied TDIU for the period January 1, 2017 to May 16, 2018.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, but has remanded the claim for a psychiatric disability (PTSD) due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for Multiple Sclerosis due to exposure to herbicide agents and for a psychiatric disorder including diagnosed PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss is denied, and a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021, is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to incomplete development and lack of an examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but he seeks a rating in excess of this. The Board denied his claim as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective January 19, 2010.,A TDIU due to PTSD alone is granted effective December 28, 2013.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is granted effective December 28, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD because of the need for additional development, including obtaining updated employment information and reassessing the severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the onset and cause of the Veteran's OSA. The VA needs to obtain additional records and conduct a new examination to determine if OSA is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons for denying an increased disability rating for PTSD prior to February 9, 2018. The Veteran needs additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 31, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% rating for PTSD and SMC benefits. The Board also remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI disability.