PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected schizophrenia has been granted, with an effective date of November 13, 2008.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, PTSD, and substance abuse due to inextricably intertwined issues with service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned to the VA examiner for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social impairment. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.,The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection, as well as a need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is reopened, and the cases of right hip disability, skin disorder, sinus disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits at the 100 percent rate is denied as he did not receive an honorable discharge and his service was not creditable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD with additional conditions like atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic lumbosacral strain, left elbow epicondylitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder tendonitis, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 19, 2015. The Veteran is now eligible for a TDIU based on his MDD with PTSD alone, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and posttraumatic stress disorder due to the lack of a current diagnosis in all cases.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete adjudication of whether new and material evidence has been submitted for PTSD, which is inextricably intertwined with the claim for a higher rating for anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a heart disability to include residuals of a heart valve replacement is denied. The case is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination regarding the heart disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 100 percent disabling, but the Board has ordered remand due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's current low back condition and its relationship to service. Service connection for psychiatric disabilities (to include PTSD) is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and increased to 70 percent effective January 15, 2020. An initial 50 percent rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% from February 4, 2019 to December 30, 2019. The rating is granted for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to January 17, 2019. From that date, the impairment has been more severe, warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The reasons include inadequate VA examinations in the case of bilateral hearing loss, failure to address favorable evidence (suicidal ideation) in the case of PTSD, and incomplete record regarding TDIU.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion. The Veteran has provided new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD has been withdrawn by the appellant through their representative.