PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted, and the effective date for service connection is set at September 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a spine disability, and a heart disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of depression, anxiety, PTSD, scoliosis, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease are to be evaluated in detail.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was denied, while his psychiatric disability, hearing loss, lung disability, hypertension, left leg disability, CVA residuals, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychosis, depressive disorder, and PTSD, is granted as service connected due to a chronic disease manifested within one year of separation from service. The right foot and ankle disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to December 6, 2021 and a rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and increased disability rating for PTSD have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating, effective from the date of the decision. Other disabilities are also addressed and rated appropriately.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and AUD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, on a direct basis due to in-service trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection was denied for both left wrist and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing their onset during service or being related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains denied.,PTSD was previously granted a 70% disability rating effective October 11, 2016. The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date, which has been denied.,The Veteran's back disability is rated as 20%, and the claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.,TDIU prior to October 11, 2016, was previously denied, and this issue remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient development, including a need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective from January 31, 2012. Service connection for hypertension is granted and effective from October 5, 2014. The claim for SMC is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding its onset in service. The Veteran's current diagnoses include PTSD, depressive disorder, and personality disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file to decide the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran reported in-service stressors and symptoms but no examination or opinion was provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 31, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018, on an extraschedular basis due to the evidence not showing that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unemployable.

The Board has granted a TDIU prior to January 24, 2020 due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU from January 24, 2020 is remanded as it involves a schedular 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for both schizophrenia and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish service connection for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are now pending further review.