PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Service connection is denied for hypertension and both lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no new and material evidence submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in 2005 due to the denial of a previous anxiety disorder claim. The effective date is set at May 23, 2014, when the Veteran filed his new claim for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and PTSD due to a lack of corroborated stressors, incomplete medical records, and failure to respond to requests for additional information. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran’s Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed.,Service connection was granted for PTSD, but denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA has not provided a combined effects opinion on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 27, 2017. The Board granted an extraschedular TDIU for this period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for seizure disorder with memory loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The claim for anxiety disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not warrant a higher than 30 percent rating.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD cannot be earlier than September 30, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to September 14, 2017 and at 50 percent thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran’s PTSD did not meet criteria for a higher rating in either period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as the Board cannot make a decision on an extraschedular basis without further review by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his lay statements combined with clinical evidence support this determination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective April 8, 2014. Service connection for other conditions has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and unverified stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination assessing his need for regular aid and attendance as a result of service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must also obtain any outstanding private treatment records and ensure they are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD and an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records from 2000-2005, SSA records, and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of degenerative arthritis and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess current severity.