PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in total occupational and social impairment from May 15, 2013 to January 26, 2021. From January 27, 2021, the Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his right great toe disability, left ankle disability, PTSD, Morton's neuroma with pes planus, and TDIU prior to November 15, 2013. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied because the original decision granting service connection and assigning a 100% rating was final, and she did not appeal it within one year.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a bad conduct discharge, finding that his entire period of active service is a bar to VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking his current symptoms to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and an initial rating of 20 percent for diabetes, but denied increased ratings for tinea corporis and PTSD.,The appellant's hypertension is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance regarding whether the appellant has a current disability of hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating for the period prior to May 22, 2018. For the period beginning May 22, 2018, the Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records from the El Paso VAMC being requested.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, along with related conditions such as depression and insomnia, based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that additional remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records, conduct new examinations for PTSD and TBI residuals, and determine the Veteran's employment status. The claims of increased ratings for PTSD and TBI residuals, as well as entitlement to a TDIU, are being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to review.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a psychiatric disorder was received on February 25, 2011. The Board denied an earlier effective date because the earliest possible effective date is the date of receipt of the application to reopen, which is February 25, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent rating from April 23, 2019, to January 31, 2021, and a 70 percent rating from February 1, 2021. The initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for HIV. The claims of service connection for neck, low back, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The left knee PFPS issue is remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to December 15, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating throughout the period on appeal, and his fibromyalgia does not meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to February 26, 2021 and 70 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further development.