PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for gout is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a disability claimed as 'arthritis throughout most of body' is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed and claimed as PTSD, is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are rated at 50 percent, but he contends they are more severe. The VA has not provided all relevant medical records in his case.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is dismissed because his anxiety disorder with PTSD features, depressive disorder, neurocognitive disorder, and alcohol use disorder has been rated at 100% by the VA. This renders the issue moot as he already receives a 100% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, while his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder not otherwise specified, was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for sensorineural conductive hearing loss in the left ear was denied. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of total unemployability (TDIU) has been remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to December 2, 2015 more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's body aches, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or unspecified depressive disorder) are all under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including corroboration of the Veteran's claimed stressors and examination for bilateral upper extremity frostbite.

The Board has reopened several claims, including those for PTSD, but denied service connection for other conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder condition and sleep apnea were not found to be related to service.

The Board has decided that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused significant impairment in work, social relationships, and daily activities. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's service records indicate he served on board USS Enterprise but not in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of increased ratings for PTSD. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to November 13, 2012 and from November 13, 2012 onwards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for epilepsy, grand mal seizures was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for PTSD as his in-service stressors were deemed insufficient under the DSM-V criteria. His claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and PTSD. The issues of service connection and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of updated psychiatric diagnostic criteria.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The skin disorder claim is remanded for additional development.