PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of his hearing loss, PTSD, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and related psychiatric symptoms. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and he is seeking an increased rating. Additionally, the Veteran is requesting a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active duty military service, and thus grants service connection for this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and adjudication of a CUE issue.

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits are not eligible for apportionment to the former spouse due to the divorce decree, making the appeal lacking legal merit.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to manage her VA funds, reversing the RO's previous finding of incompetence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records, providing appropriate notice regarding sexual trauma during service, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional VA treatment records. The case will be further reviewed based on the results of these actions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported stressor is not related to combat and does not meet the criteria for service connection under the liberalized PTSD regulations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder. The issues of PTSD, anxiety, and depression are still pending as the claim is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder can be decided.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective July 2010. He contends for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to service, and his PTSD rating remains at 50 percent. The case is remanded for further development regarding the PTSD claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability is currently assigned a 20 percent rating, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5271. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple stages of increased PTSD ratings, with the most recent rating decision granting a 70% disability evaluation for PTSD effective July 22, 2010. The Veteran also raised a claim for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The appellant is entitled to a higher initial evaluation of 20 percent for C6-7 radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and musculocutaneous neuropathy of the right upper extremity, prior to July 12, 2012.,The appellant is also entitled to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.