PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety, major depression, and bipolar disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for PTSD, TDIU, and SMC have also been remanded.

The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is reopened. The claims for neurobehavioral effects due to exposure at Camp Lejeune and any other acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of June 2, 2014. The Board found that the earlier effective date of June 1, 2013 should be granted due to the timely filing within one year after discharge from service. For bilateral plantar fasciitis, the Veteran's claim is remanded for further development.

The appeals seeking service connection for a right shoulder disorder and left lower extremity disorders have been dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, has been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to October 22, 1982, for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.

All service connection claims for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Vet Centers and SSA examination reports. The issues of higher staged initial ratings for PTSD and TDIU prior to February 10, 2014 are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than nightmare disorder (claimed as PTSD), was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.,Service connection for Nightmare Disorder was granted. The VA examiner concluded it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s diagnosed nightmare disorder was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left knee medial meniscus tear, right knee disability (secondary to left knee), and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (claimed as depressive disorder NOS) due to insufficient evidence. A VA examination is required for each issue.

The Veteran's PTSD with pseudoseizures is rated at 70% for the entire rating period beginning December 14, 2010. A separate initial 20% rating for pseudoseizures is granted but does not affect the overall PTSD rating.

The Veteran is granted a 100% evaluation for his service-connected PTSD from March 24, 2011. The claim of service connection for Gonorrhea is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, erectile dysfunction, and PTSD are not service-connected. The decision denies the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

Service connection for PTSD is restored as the severance was improper.,The skin condition claim is denied due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran witnessed an in-service stressor, and no clear and unmistakable error has been established.,Diabetes mellitus type II is not service connected because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. High cholesterol is also not service connected as it is not related to any in-service event or disease.,High cholesterol remains unconnected to service.

The Board's June 2016 decision was based on an inadequate examination of the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disability, and thus is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to March 14, 2013 is being remanded due to procedural issues related to a notice of disagreement filed in March 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and major depressive disorder, is at least as likely as not due to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest possible rating. The Board found that giving him the benefit of doubt, his symptoms meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating but not higher.