PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus have made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 28, 2002. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder is granted, as her diagnoses are based on a personal assault during active service. Her claim for left breast cancer is remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to environmental toxins at Fort McClellan.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD and unemployability due to service-connected disability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing VA treatment records for his PTSD, which may have an impact on the adjudication of his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to November 16, 2011 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to November 16, 2011 is denied. The claim for TDIU based on PTSD is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, meeting the criteria for such impairment due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening his PTSD claim, service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, and rating for lumbosacral sprain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU prior to January 2, 2015 are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the character of his discharge. The Board of Correction of Naval Records upgraded his discharge from general court martial to under honorable conditions in February 2008, which allowed him to receive VA benefits. However, an earlier effective date was not granted as it would have been based on when he filed for correction of his military records.

The Veteran's appeal concerning his disability ratings for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal regarding the issue of a rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the absence of a specific treatment record from February 23, 2011. The VA will attempt to obtain this missing record and any other outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board also found that service connection is now warranted for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations for his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the most recent evaluation showing Level III Roman numeral designation for the right ear and Level II designation for the left ear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST) is being remanded as the Board finds that additional development, including a VA examination and notification under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5), is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in response to the June 2006 denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As such, the appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and stomach ulcers are being remanded due to the need for additional development.