PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 7, 2016 has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD is denied as it was not factually ascertainable that his PTSD had increased to warrant such rating prior to June 27, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and antisocial personality disorder, is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left hands, as well as for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left feet, were denied. The Veteran was also denied a higher rating for his PTSD.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their severity under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim may also be affected by this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. She is now entitled to a 100% disability rating for her PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional efforts to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the current nature, severity, and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to respond to this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the appellant's claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to an in-service personal assault, and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to August 15, 2016 has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was not decided as the case is now moot.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability, service connection for skin cancer due to herbicide exposure, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are rated based on their impact on his occupational and social functioning. The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD, but the case is remanded to address whether he qualifies for TDIU due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bruxism, increased ratings for heart disease and bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The decision found that bruxism is not a compensable disability, while the heart condition was rated at 30 percent, which is consistent with the current level of impairment. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet criteria for higher ratings under VA rating schedules.

The Veteran's PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder in remission is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 20, 2017.