PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals, including those for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from March 21, 2012 to October 16, 2016 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The rating of 50% was granted for this period.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases of sinusitis and headaches for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was dismissed as moot. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is granted. A TDIU is granted. The claims for hepatitis C and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted due to his symptoms remaining within the range of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a low back disorder and PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia is not service-connected.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and shoulder disability do not render him unemployable as the result of his service connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression, alcohol use disorder, and cocaine use disorder. The appeal regarding VA medical treatment for a psychosis or mental illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for prostate cancer and PTSD have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left shoulder condition and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has previously remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability. The case is being remanded again due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are due to stressful events he experienced in service. The Board has found that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including Social Security Administration (SSA) records, private treatment records, employment records, and an examination of his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, as they did not address the Veteran’s contentions of direct service connection and provided negative nexus opinions. The case is therefore being remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current disability and the evidence does not support a link between his military service and his claimed condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to her submission of additional evidence. VA is instructed to assist in obtaining this evidence and then readjudicate the cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), finding that it was neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury.