PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for acne and PTSD have been granted, while the claim for residuals of circumcision remains denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD with major depressive disorder, and his TDIU prior to March 7, 2015, is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. He was previously awarded a 30% rating for PTSD effective July 28, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability picture. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on his claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's PTSD, diagnosed in accordance with DSM-5 and related to his service stressors, is granted as the Board finds that the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. The appeal regarding service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. He also received a TDIU and SMC.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since May 12, 2015. He also received a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 9, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Dysthymic Disorder is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the current diagnosis of depression, need for a new examination to corroborate non-combat stressor, and need for an updated VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 23, 2013 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, residuals of a right foot injury (claimed as residuals of a right foot fracture), and chronic diarrhea (claimed as IBS) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for CFS has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased evaluations was timely filed, and all issues decided in the June 7, 2012 rating decision are now under review.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, as he has difficulty interacting with others in a work setting.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to an incorrect diagnostic manual being used in the initial evaluation. The Veteran must be evaluated using the DSM-5.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to November 6, 2014, and increased to 70 percent from that date. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in an October 2007 rating decision. The denial became final, and the Veteran did not appeal it. A March 2013 claim for depression led to a grant of service connection for depression effective March 26, 2013. Therefore, an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied.