PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD with opioid dependence and depression is rated at a 70 percent disability level since January 6, 2011. He also received a TDIU rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder are due to stressful events in service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and TDIU were dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for IBS, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD and hiatal hernia, and impotency. The claims are being reviewed again due to incomplete or insufficient opinions in previous evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and service personnel records that need to be obtained, as well as a new VA examination for clarification of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability(ies).

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded due to the need for a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) considering all service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus. The RO must re-adjudicate the claim and provide an opportunity for the Veteran to respond.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury residuals are not service-connected.,The Veteran's neck injury residuals are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is not established.,Service connection for food poisoning residuals is not established.,Service connection for a chronic lung disability is not established.,A higher evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 27, 2016, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for migraine headaches is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of anxiety disorder related to his military service.

Your PTSD has already been granted a full rating of 100% from the date of service connection. There is no pending issue for appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, lumbosacral spine strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD from June 1, 2010 through July 10, 2012.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an effective date earlier than May 24, 2016 for PTSD with MDD and service connection for hypertension. The issue of TDIU prior to May 24, 2016 is also being remanded as it may be affected by the earlier effective date issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder claims, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: one regarding a higher initial rating for anxiety disorder and another about service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was previously denied due to lack of a diagnosis, but he now claims he should be diagnosed with PTSD. For the anxiety disorder issue, the Veteran argues his May 2013 VA examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% and increased to 70%. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms, including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and social isolation, most closely approximated a 70% rating.

The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy and PTSD have been granted effective as of May 24, 2012. Effective January 16, 2013, the Veteran has also received a TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted. The appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, IHD, DM, and PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.