PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The appeals to reopen claims of service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head injury/traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, sleep disorder, liver disorder and dental disorder for treatment purposes are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a mood disorder, is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection in October 2017. The issue of an effective date prior to December 7, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with MDD and episodic psychosis remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for OSA. The Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with her pending service connection claims.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,For PTSD from June 27, 2016 to August 9, 2016, the Veteran is granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent. For PTSD prior to June 27, 2016 and from August 10, 2016, no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gynecological disability was reopened, and the appeal is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for maxillary sinusitis is denied as there were no prior claims for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, with the condition related to in-service military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service. The appeals are mixed, with some issues being granted and others not.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 5, 2002. The Board also remanded the issue of assigning a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU prior to December 27, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need to consider additional VA treatment records, a completed VA Form 21-8940, and SSA disability benefits decision.

The Veteran's eye disability, headaches as secondary to sinusitis, and maxillary sinusitis are granted service connection. The Veteran is denied service connection for hyposmia due to existing service-connected loss of sense of smell. An initial compensable rating (30%) is granted for maxillary sinusitis from July 26, 2016 onwards. Service connection for PTSD is not granted as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The PTSD rating was also remanded due to additional VA treatment records being obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's headaches and PTSD have been rated as noncompensable (0%) since October 18, 2014. The Board found that the headaches did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks. For PTSD, the Board determined that the symptoms were more nearly approximated by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, right leg peripheral artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and OSA, but has remanded the cases of Bell's palsy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar strain, and PTSD with major depressive episode (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as there was insufficient evidence to corroborate the Veteran's account of military sexual trauma, and her diagnosis was based solely on her own lay statements.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective August 2, 2002, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.