PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for psychiatric disability, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety, has been dismissed as the Veteran requested its withdrawal in a July 2017 correspondence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and depression, as well as a low back disability. The Veteran needs to be provided with new examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear notification of potential evidentiary sources for verifying an in-service personal assault, and the need for a VA psychiatric examination to clarify the diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the low back disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and seizure disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been rated at 70 percent since July 31, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as there is no total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has found that further development is necessary and the case is being remanded for consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is of sufficient severity to produce unemployability from September 29, 2016, to April 12, 2018. However, there is not sufficient additional service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or more to warrant entitlement to special monthly compensation for this period.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records, a more recent VA examination, and consideration of both schedular and extraschedular criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The case is remanded for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's herpes and PTSD claims should be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since April 9, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms of his PTSD meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating but not a higher one.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and denied an initial compensable rating for headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and a sleep disorder, as well as bilateral hearing loss. Additional development is required to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims due to an incorrect address and a lack of reference to laws and regulations in the decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for dysthymia, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder with PTSD) due to new evidence. The claim is granted as there is a reasonable possibility that the current diagnoses are related to service.

The previously denied claims for back strain, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired mental health condition are reopened. The claim of service connection for asthma is denied.,The previously denied claims for sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and myasthenia gravis are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent since August 27, 2014. The Board has remanded the case to consider additional evidence and determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines have rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating on schedular basis.