PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. Service connection for Depressive Disorder was denied.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder and PTSD, is related to his service but needs further examination for a complete assessment.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, but the Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD and a freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD are both dismissed.

The Veteran's petition for an effective date prior to March 7, 2012 for a grant of 100 percent for PTSD is dismissed because the claim was not filed before that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo. The issues on appeal include the propriety of combining the ratings for these conditions and the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, but the rating for PTSD remains under review.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,Claims regarding the Veteran's knee, shoulder, deviated septum, sleep apnea, lacunar infarcts, PTSD, and dental conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 70 percent from November 9, 2014 to February 23, 2016. The rating remains unchanged for the period after February 23, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and his Personality Disorder is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for perianal abscess, as well as the issue of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death due to cirrhosis of the liver, which was a result of alcohol abuse. The Board finds that the service-connected condition did cause or contribute to the death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent and a higher rating of up to 60 percent is requested. The Board has decided that another examination is needed to determine the current severity of the disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and deviated nasal septum were not granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD was granted, but a higher rating is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is found to be the proximate cause of his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. His PTSD has been rated at its highest level due to severe occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection.,Service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, cystic skin lesions, a respiratory disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is granted as service connected, and his PTSD is remanded for further evaluation. The issue of TDIU is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the PTSD claim.