PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, back disability, and right knee disability. The appeal concerning PTSD was also dismissed.,Service connection for these conditions was granted in an April 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, and a bilateral knee disability are denied. A 20% rating is granted for lumbosacral spine disability effective September 14, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to March 22, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and insomnia).

Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for schizophrenia, previously granted in August 1983 with a 30% rating, is maintained but the effective date of the grant is changed to May 16, 1980.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service, including any exposure to asbestos, dust, smoke, fumes, and dry ice. The decision also requires an examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is aggravating his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to May 1, 2012, for adding his child A.C.M. as a dependent was denied because the evidence of A.C.M.'s Social Security number was not received within one year of notification of the July 2006 rating decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and as a result, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to October 26, 2011 and 70% from that date. The appeal for a higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to May 28, 2014 were moderate in nature and more nearly approximated the criteria for a 50 percent rating. From May 28, 2014 onwards, his symptoms worsened but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and providing opinions on service connection and aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to the need for a new examination with updated findings.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was granted, with a 70% rating effective October 22, 2012. The service connection for ischemic heart disease and the effect date for service connection were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted. The diagnoses are based on his reported stressors during the Vietnam war.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, including memory loss, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, skin disability, and increased ratings for chronic lower back pain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, and chronic nonallergic rhinitis. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for PTSD to qualify him for Dependents Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination records and analysis.

This decision grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is granted, based on new evidence indicating possible PTSD diagnosis. The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for stomach disorder (claimed as GERD) is also granted, due to the presence of GERD diagnosis.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a finding that he meets the clinical criteria for PTSD based on his reported combat experiences.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating since May 1, 1999. From June 29, 2007, the Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his PTSD.