PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's MDD with history of psychotic features is granted as service-connected. The issue regarding other psychiatric disorders remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 26, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment since October 3, 2018. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, bilateral tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been denied. Service connection for ethmoid sinusitis is granted with a rating of 30 percent disabling. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD ratings are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his symptoms over time.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective January 20, 2017. Other service-connected conditions have been assigned specific ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was reopened and granted due to the submission of new evidence that supports a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, throughout the appeal period. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, difficulty establishing work and social relationships, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected multiple traumas to left hand, fingers, and tendons. His PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's condition of surgical repairs and joint fusions of multiple traumas to the left hand, fingers, and tendons does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board denied a higher rating and found no entitlement to TDIU or SMC.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and stimulant use disorder was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD, service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to PTSD, and higher initial rating for PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The evidence did not show a current disability or link to service.,Tinnitus was granted as it is at least as likely as not related to military acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, with an effective date not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified schizophrenic and other psychotic disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling prior to January 31, 2023. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a new VA examination. The issues of rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD and TDIU are also being remanded due to their interrelation with the PTSD issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The case is now pending for further review.