PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for COPD and asthma have been remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The VA is required to review this new evidence and issue a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 9, 2003.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, MDD, and various physical conditions were denied. The Board found that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or other incident to support the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired mental disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder with alcohol use disorder, has precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since December 23, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and missing records. The right ankle issues need further examination, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires a VA examination and review of medical history.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as a heavy equipment operator. Therefore, an effective date prior to June 19, 2014, for the award of total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, arthritis of the right knee, left knee condition, and arthritis of the left knee. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification, including a determination on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

A 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD with GAD is granted from January 19, 2016 (but not earlier). More than a 70 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from April 13, 2016 is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2020. Prior to that date, the rating was denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee tendonitis with degenerative arthritis has been granted. The 20 percent rating for right knee instability and subluxation remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the claim for posttraumatic stress disorder due to incomplete records from a mental health provider. The Veteran's service connection request is pending and will be reconsidered after obtaining the missing medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD and/or medications have aggravated his GERD. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressors and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board dismissed the appeals for a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate and unspecified neurocognitive disorder; an effective date prior to April 5, 2018, for the 70 percent rating increase; and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to September 20, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation from October 24, 2013, to December 10, 2014, and from February 1, 2015, to April 9, 2015. The appeal for an increased rating remains on hold.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted effective as of his date of claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient information regarding his in-service military environmental exposures. Additional development is needed to determine if he served in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia during a specific time period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for PTSD has been dismissed as the benefit sought (a full grant of a 100% disability rating) was already granted in an August 2020 decision.