PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, or permanently housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding an October 2021 phone call from the Veteran to VA. The matter is now for readjudication.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate a 70 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol abuse disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions, including PTSD with mood disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, are rated at 100 percent effective from the date of the award of service connection.

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits were improperly terminated from September 16, 2016 to January 8, 2018 due to fugitive felon status. The reduction of his benefits from January 9, 2018 to June 9, 2018 was also improper due to incarceration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been granted.,The reopened claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100% and an additional disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Board found that his TDIU granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA criteria for a disability. TMJ dysfunction is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to service connection for various peripheral neuropathies, which have been remanded by the Board. The primary focus of this decision is on the evaluation and service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating of 40 percent is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling since September 26, 2019, and he is granted special monthly compensation for housebound benefits. The issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the statutory housebound criteria being in effect.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD is rated at a 50 percent rating, effective prior to April 25, 2019.

Effective dates of October 26, 1978 have been granted for PTSD, TBI, cervical spine disability, right hip disabilities, and migraine headaches. Effective dates prior to February 14, 2011 have not been granted for loss of sense of smell, taste, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 100 percent for TBI with neurocognitive disorder, arachnoid cyst, and PTSD is dismissed. The claim for a compensable rating for the lumbar spine scar is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to September 28, 2021, and the TDIU claim prior to that date were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating greater than 50 percent or 70 percent for PTSD prior to September 28, 2021, and after that date, respectively.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD, right and left foot disabilities, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica. The appeals are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, but no higher. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral foot conditions, precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would have otherwise qualified him during the period from October 21, 2015 through October 10, 2018.