PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and hammer toe of both feet due to procedural issues. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other conditions, resulted in occupational and social impairment but did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD was rated at 50% prior to August 31, 2021 and increased to 70% from August 31, 2021 to July 1, 2022. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with PTSD was rated at 70% from July 1, 2022 to present. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI symptoms have been rated as 30 percent disabling prior to May 23, 2022. From May 23, 2022, the rating has been denied.,A separate compensable rating for peripheral vestibular disorder secondary to in-service TBIs is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD, requiring additional development and a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective May 5, 2015. A TDIU is granted as of the same date. The Veteran also receives a 30 percent rating for laryngitis and a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss. However, an extraschedular TDIU prior to May 5, 2015 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as an inadequate statement of reasons and bases. The Veteran is required to provide any missing records and undergo a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from January 29, 2016 to August 21, 2022.,From August 22, 2022 to the present, the Veteran's PTSD also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as new and material evidence has been submitted since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn's disease has been reopened and granted. The Veteran's PTSD is rated in excess of 50 percent, but the case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and determine if a TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders was denied because the evidence did not support the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.,There is no credible corroborating evidence to support the Veteran's reported stressors, including those related to Hurricane Katrina, alcohol poisoning, and a helicopter fire.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU have been improperly docketed under the modernized appeal system. The Board has implicitly waived any objections regarding the Veteran's filing of the improper Notice of Disagreement form, and these issues are now to be remanded to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to April 27, 2017 and denied a higher rating. The effective date for the 70 percent evaluation is granted starting from April 27, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD evaluations are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his condition. The SMC claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the PTSD claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 13, 2018.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is rated at a 50 percent since April 8, 2022. The Board found that the symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports reopening the claim but remands the case to obtain additional records and provide medical opinions on the issues of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his CAD is denied, but he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of PTSD and GERD, and the Board dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records and a new examination.