PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective March 26, 2012. The rating reflects reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as sleep disturbance, panic attacks, irritability, hypervigilance, isolation, and increased alcohol consumption.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot condition, Meniere’s syndrome, sleep issues, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder with panic due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for additional examination. The Board also requests an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his other diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including pain disorder with psychological stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been remanded for further development. The Board found that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease (IHD) was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues regarding PTSD and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because there is no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressor and he did not serve in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as for a right knee disorder and inguinal hernia. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of March 4, 2008. The original claim had been denied in August 1998 and the Veteran withdrew her claim in October 2004 before it could be reopened.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a deviated septum, claimed as a disability of the nose, is dismissed. The Board has remanded cases involving low back disability, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral tinea pedis/tinea unguium.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been remanded. His claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have also been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathies, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic prostatitis, cervical myositis, lumbar myositis, and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The AOJ must obtain VA treatment records from 1997 and any private treatment records related to his prostate condition in 1997. They are also required to provide the Veteran with release forms for these records if they have not already been obtained.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, or mood disorder, as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any such condition and there was no nexus to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST), finding that there was no evidence linking her current psychiatric disorders to her active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and PTSD, but remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and carpal tunnel syndrome, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 16, 2006.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and back disability, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to missing records. The VA will conduct a new search for all relevant documents and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit any missing records. A new VA examination is also required for both PTSD and back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is not service connected, and his PTSD is rated at 70%.,PTSD benefits are granted with conditions but an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned for further development.