PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's GERD and pilonidal scar claims are both denied as the evidence does not support the assignment of any compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing private treatment records, specifically those from Greenleaf Behavioral Center where the Veteran was hospitalized for suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts in August 2020. The VA will seek these records and any additional relevant evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective October 3, 2022. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to May 17, 2017, is moot as the Veteran is already receiving a total disability rating due to his PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's notice of disagreement (NOD) was timely filed, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, eye conditions, and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to cooperate by attending any future VA examinations or communicating with VA as to why he cannot attend.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from April 5, 2016, and a TDIU is granted from June 30, 2017.

The Veteran's motion to revise a November 2021 decision of the Board on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed without prejudice to refiling due to insufficient specificity in his allegations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, but a higher rating is denied.,Effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not earlier than February 24, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is dismissed as the full benefit sought has already been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip arthritis, but denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and unspecified neurocognitive disorder).

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for his left ankle and psychiatric disorders. The Board finds that there is no persuasive evidence to support these claims.,The Veteran's current effective date for the grants of service connection for his left ankle and psychiatric disorders stems from an intent to file he submitted to VA in September 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board must identify and obtain any outstanding SSA records that are not already associated with the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound status because he did not meet the criteria at any point prior to September 19, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, agoraphobia, and panic disorder with anxiety disorder have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since October 1, 2014. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder was withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.,Claims for increased ratings for skin cancer on various upper extremities and face/neck were denied. The reduction in disability rating for hypertension from 10% to 0% was found improper, and the previous rating is restored.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 30, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability was granted. However, the claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.