PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance of another person based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 5, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim was granted from September 4, 2010 to February 26, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD prior to May 22, 2012 and from May 22, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to May 22, 2012 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, upper back condition, left knee condition, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence of a direct relationship between any of these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to a duty to assist error and the need to address TDIU.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for award of a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they do not have a link to in-service noise exposure.,PTSD, sleep problems, and a skin rash were not diagnosed or linked to service.

The Veteran's arrhythmia, bruxism, COPD, right hip condition, left hip condition, left knee injury, obesity, traumatic brain injury, and vertigo have not been found to be related to service.,PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in a rating of 70 percent but the Veteran is still considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU rating are being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and a lack of proper consideration of the evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress and major depressive disorders, finding no unadjudicated formal or informal claim prior to October 7, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, but this claim is denied as it was not filed before January 25, 2017.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound. The RO granted this effective date based on the date of receipt of a TDIU claim in March 2015, which aligns with the August 25, 2017, housebound examination received by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The claims for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, tinnitus, and bacterial vaginosis were also denied.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol dependence and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) is dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, effective March 18, 2021. The RO also denied service connection for lung cancer, prostate cancer, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is related to his military service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition but has remanded the issue of sleep apnea as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder.