PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a TBI, but has granted reopening of the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for both conditions are now pending on remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to July 18, 2017 is denied as the evidence does not support that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left elbow disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of November 16, 2009 due to clear and unmistakable error in the June 2010 rating decision. The original denial was based on incorrect information regarding combat participation, but this has been corrected.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been dismissed as he is satisfied with his current rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 30 percent rating from April 20, 2011 to November 20, 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for hypertension and a TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn both appeals.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or anxiety) due to lack of VA examination records. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again after obtaining all relevant treatment records.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to lack of new and material evidence. The appellant did not have a current psychiatric disability or any chronic psychiatric disorder at any point during the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also receives a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

Your claims for increased ratings for tension headaches and PTSD are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to obtain necessary medical records. The claims include service connection for various conditions such as shell fragment wound, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus condition, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, gastrointestinal condition, skin problems, and sleeping disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability has been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The VA is remanding the cases related to his left leg radiculopathy, right leg radiculopathy, scar associated with status-post discectomy of lumbar spine with DDD, TDIU, left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease, and multiple fractures, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since August 30, 2009. The effective date for the TDIU is set at that date.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and PTSD are granted service connection, with the effective date set at March 9, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD with adjustment disorder was initially rated at 100% from January 23, 2012 to March 31, 2012 and again from March 23, 2015 to May 31, 2015. From May 29, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50 percent evaluation for the period from February 28, 2006 to July 11, 2017. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD after July 12, 2017 remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, but the Board found that he does not currently have a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the intertwined nature of the PTSD issue. The RO will develop evidence and adjudicate both issues together.