PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hearing request for a TDIU claim was considered withdrawn due to the incorrect address. The AOJ is instructed to attempt once more to obtain relevant records from FCI Beckley, including treatment records and employment information.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and no higher. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximating a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective January 7, 2016. This rating reflects the severity of his symptoms and impairment in most areas.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for sleep apnea was granted. Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to asthma is also granted. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, as it is unclear whether there is a current diagnosis and if so, whether it is related to an in-service stressor or aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment, but they cause significant impairments in work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD. However, the Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and individual unemployability is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn. His right ankle condition is granted as service-connected, but the lumbosacral spine DDD with mild disc bulge at L4-L5 and L5 S1 does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, asthma (also claimed as shortness of breath), and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted but the issue is recharacterized as PTSD.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is granted.

Service connection for a bilateral foot condition, to include pes planus is granted. Entitlement to an initial evaluation of 10 percent disabling for status post small bowel obstruction is also granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include depression and PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's diagnosed allergic rhinitis. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding VA treatment records, request private medical records if necessary, and provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted an earlier effective date of October 1, 2012 for a rating increase to 70 percent.,The claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for reopening of service connection for hypertension and PTSD, as well as remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, kidney disorder, neurological disabilities, peripheral neuropathies, and radiculopathies. Service connection is denied for liver disorder, heart disorder, right upper extremity neurological disability, left upper extremity neurological disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of joint pain, low back disorder, and PTSD has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issue of joint pain. The Board also denied service connection for low back disorder and PTSD as there was no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a prostate disability and denied it. The claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for residuals of a perforated left ear drum, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), and psychiatric disability (including posttraumatic stress disorder) are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is remanded due to incomplete development and the need for additional records from the Brockton Vet Center. The AOJ must obtain these records, as well as any outstanding private treatment records, and provide an addendum opinion from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 3, 2016. Prior to that date, the rating was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.