PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for PTSD, chronic with alcohol abuse and TBI is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD, a recurrent headache disorder, a recurrent left shoulder disorder, and a recurrent multiple joint disorder. The initial rating for major depressive disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD that is linked to his documented in-service stressor, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for an effective date of May 12, 1981 for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to July 1, 2003.

The Veteran's treatment at GRMC on November 6, 2010 was for a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to his health. The Veteran had a total disability resulting from service-connected conditions and VA facilities were not feasibly available or reasonable to use beforehand.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from April 9, 2014 to July 6, 2016 and a TDIU due to PTSD was granted from November 19, 2015 to July 6, 2016. The rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is still under review.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas during the period of April 9, 2014 to July 6, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons and bases for denying service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, PTSD, and GERD need further review due to missing records and additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from August 25, 2004. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to May 12, 2015 and denied for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a determination on his claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CAD).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied because he did not file a formal claim within one year of his informal claim, and thus the earliest possible effective date is July 28, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, insomnia, and depression. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular rating requirements for assignment of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, and Depression.

The Board has restored the Veteran's PTSD disability rating to 50 percent effective October 1, 2017, finding that the reduction was improper and that there is no actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination regarding the Veteran's reported in-service stressor involving a personal assault, including being touched and grabbed in his groin area outside his clothes in sight of many other troops by his Master Sergeant on the flight line at the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The remand includes attempting to corroborate the Veteran’s statements and scheduling him for a psychiatric examination.