PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted as service-connected, but his cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar spine disability are denied.

The Veteran was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression, right and left knee replacements, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and syphilis. The Board granted a TDIU prior to June 28, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum 100 percent disability rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder (back disability) as it has been granted. The claims for service connection of a breathing disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include MDD, bipolar, and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), GERD, hemorrhoids, hypertension, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, and sciatic nerve disorders affecting both lower extremities are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received in January 2018, which suggests that the Veteran's discharge under other than honorable conditions is not a bar to VA benefits for claims based on his period of service from April 21, 1989, to January 6, 1994. The case will be further examined regarding whether the Veteran's behavior at the time of the offense leading to his discharge was due to disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from January 27, 2013 to January 15, 2022. From January 15, 2022, the rating for PTSD is denied. The initial increased rating of 20 percent for left knee limitation of flexion is granted until January 15, 2022. After that date, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected PTSD has been granted at a 100 percent level. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and a new VA medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding issues and requests for unredacted copies of examiners' credentials. The Veteran's representative has requested these documents, but no redacted versions have been provided.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to May 13, 2022. Beginning May 13, 2022, the severity of his PTSD symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for continued Chapter 31 VR&E services due to the severity of his service-connected physical and mental disabilities, which rendered achievement of a vocational goal not feasible.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS were denied. The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause, leading to a denial of these claims. The effective date claim was also remanded as it had not been addressed in the AOJ's decision.

The Veteran is eligible for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing (SAH) due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim of eligibility for a special home adaptation grant (SHA) is dismissed as moot, given the award of SAH.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, and he is granted an initial increased rating for this condition. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, sinus disability, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence or further clarification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase due to his psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.