PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the Veteran's claims for other acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded due to a lack of evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of her PTSD and substance abuse disorders, as well as clarification on her employment status. The issues include seeking higher ratings for PTSD, determining if her substance abuse disorder is secondary to PTSD, and evaluating her eligibility for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30% prior to March 7, 2014 and at 50% thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding hypertension. Service connection for PTSD and hypertension are not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing SSA records. The Veteran's PTSD claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective June 14, 2018. The cervical spine disability was granted a 10 percent rating prior to April 26, 2010 and denied any higher rating after that date. Right upper extremity radiculopathy received a 20 percent rating from June 15, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. Ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees remain at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and an increased rating for anxiety disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50% effective as of August 20, 2013. An earlier effective date of March 26, 2008 for service connection has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, as secondary to his primary choroidal melanoma of the left eye. The initial compensable disability rating claim for lumbar degenerative disc disease is also being remanded.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection decisions are made as a result.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a right knee disability have been granted. The PTSD claim is based on combat exposure, while the right knee issue has been linked to in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms are most closely associated with a 50 percent evaluation and denied an increased rating above this level.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

PTSD was denied for a higher rating, with the Veteran's condition not meeting criteria for total occupational and social impairment.,Right knee disability was denied for a higher rating due to limited range of motion without instability or other severe symptoms.

The claim of service connection for PTSD is reopened and granted. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service events led to a new diagnosis of PTSD, which is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial rating greater than 60 percent for CAD. The Veteran's back/neck condition, COPD, and erectile dysfunction were also remanded for further development.,The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination prior to his death to assess the existence and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining post-service medical records and corroborating in-service stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its denial of a TDIU rating, as it failed to reconcile findings with the May 2017 VA examination opinion. The matter is now referred to the VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to March 30, 2007 and remains rated at 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new DC 6602 criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, are granted as service connected based on direct evidence of a current disability, a confirmed in-service stressor, and a link between the current symptoms and the claimed in-service stressor.