PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to consider all submitted evidence.

The Board has granted the request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and has determined that the Veteran is entitled to this benefit due to the evidence presented, including a VA examination confirming a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues, including increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and right ear hearing loss, service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and a TDIU claim. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo new examinations.

The Board has determined that an addendum medical opinion is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's PTSD and its relationship to his in-service stressor. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, vertigo, sleep apnea, diabetes, PTSD, depression, and headaches are being remanded for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence linking current hypertension to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as there was no verified in-service stressor and the Veteran did not engage in combat. The claimant's statements were found to be insufficient to establish a credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar strain and PTSD, as well as the issue of TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 16, 2013, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 16, 2013, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for bruxism, which is now dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for additional VA opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, cervical spine disability, TBI-related migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and endometriosis was granted with an effective date of January 2, 2014. The initial rating for the lumbar spine disability is set at 20 percent. For endometriosis, a compensable rating is assigned prior to December 31, 2014, but not since that date.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is being remanded for further consideration, including the May 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, panic disorder, and depressive disorder, is granted. The claim for a back disability is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory lung disability and post-traumatic stress disorder. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) and neuropathy in both legs and feet due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a finding that her current diagnosis of PTSD is related to her reported military sexual trauma (MST) during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent since December 1, 2015. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with schizophrenia and alcohol abuse is rated at a 70 percent rating for the period prior to March 10, 2016.

The Veteran's lung disease and PTSD were denied. Lung disease was not granted due to lack of a link between the condition and service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. PTSD was granted at 70% prior to December 12, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's claims for service connection are valid and, therefore, remands the case back to the AOJ.