PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and gunshot wounds to the hip and leg, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative balance as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was incurred during his military service. The benefit-of-the-doubt rule is applied, and therefore, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and a depressive disorder, secondary to TBI, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his psychiatric disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and headaches associated with TBI were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his left ankle condition and right knee strain are both rated below the maximum allowed. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as there was no formal or informal claim prior to February 9, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30% for PTSD is remanded due to worsening symptoms and the need for updated VA examination records.

The Board has granted the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for right knee disability, PTSD, chronic headache disability, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for an eye disability remains pending as it was not reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his active duty service, including exposure to hostile enemy fire and IEDs. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of November 21, 1995. The earlier denial in May 1996 did not become final because the Veteran never received notice of it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent, as they are more consistent with a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and peptic ulcer conditions are rated at 70% and 10%, respectively, prior to January 7, 2019. The Board has remanded these issues for further evaluation due to worsening symptoms since the last examinations. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD and peptic ulcer claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorders, and alcohol abuse. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI prior to February 15, 2021, and in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, MDD, and TBI thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left hip and lumbar spine disabilities, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The PTSD claim requires a remand to obtain an updated VA examination. The hearing loss and respiratory disability claims also require additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inextricably intertwined issues and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, TBI, thoracolumbar spine disability, gastrointestinal disorder, CTS, and OSA. The Veteran's claims were not adjudicated on the basis of service connection.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeals at this time.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and the Board also finds that his lumbar spine disability may be related to in-service injury. The hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 18, 2020.