PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted. Increased ratings were awarded for lumbar strain (40%), bilateral foot degenerative joint disease (10%), and migraine cephalgia (30%). The effective date for the increase to a 10 percent rating for bilateral feet degenerative joint disease is May 25, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and sleep apnea, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from January 1, 2013 due to service-connected PTSD.,From January 1, 2013, the Veteran is also eligible for special monthly compensation for housebound status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and needs further examination regarding service connection for psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressors and the need for a VA examination to determine if he meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD or other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the permanency of a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected PTSD, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to appear for a VA examination. The Veteran is advised that if he fails to cooperate with necessary development, the Board will proceed based solely on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI and alcohol use disorder has been granted a rating of 70 percent, effective February 11, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) before the Board made a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his PTSD is productive of a great degree of disability but does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating he no longer wished to pursue the claims for service connection or rating increases. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from November 30, 2009, through November 14, 2014. He also has diabetes which is rated at over 60 percent. Therefore, TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining VA and private treatment records prior to October 3, 2001. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service connection of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and her TDIU claim was granted. The hypertension case is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 3, 2017 is denied as the earliest possible date for an award of TDIU based on the August 2020 application would be August 2019.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and related conditions (anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances) is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to service, and the cervical spine disorder is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD disability picture was granted a 50 percent rating, effective prior to May 23, 2012. The decision also noted that the Veteran had occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.