PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Service connection for cervicothoracic spine pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ear hearing loss are all granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, PTSD with alcohol use disorder and TBI residuals, left sciatic radicular pain, and right sciatic radicular pain are all denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for left and right sciatic radicular pain.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the claim due to a duty-to-assist error where the Veteran was not afforded a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability will be reconsidered.

An effective date of July 24, 2019, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and major depressive disorder is granted.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for the period prior to January 14, 2020, for a psychiatric disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to a verified in-service stressor.,His posttraumatic headache disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful occupation since January 20, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU effective as of that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar strain and unspecified sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been remanded due to his failure to report for VA examinations and the need for a new examination considering his worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to a delay in uploading evidence, which prevented the VA from issuing the Statement of the Case (SOC). The Veteran's attorney requested information about the competency of the psychologist who performed mental health examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Schizophrenia, is related to service exposure in Kuwait. The Board found that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 11, 2013 for the awards of service connection for various conditions including PTSD and major depressive disorder with TBI residuals, migraine headaches, left knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella, right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, and scars of the bilateral knees, left calf (other impairment).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 8, 2010. Effective from that date, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 31, 2017, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating prior to July 21, 2017. From July 21, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 40 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at a 40 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his left elbow condition, cubital tunnel syndrome, shoulder condition, back condition, knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, eye condition, neuropathy of the hands, and neuropathy of the feet.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding his bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome).,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding his shoulder condition.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his back condition.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his knee, eye, hand, and foot conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (cyclothymic disorder and PTSD) appeal is also remanded for an examination and opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his eye condition.,The Veteran's appeals are all remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his hand and foot conditions.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues of increased evaluations for migraine headaches, PTSD and MDD, and TDIU. The Veteran's representative argues for a new examination due to inconsistencies in the June 2022 VA examination report.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for hiatal hernia, PTSD with nightmare disorder, and lumbosacral strain. The appeal is dismissed.