PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD with organic brain syndrome, secondary to malaria, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for the period from June 8, 2009, to July 19, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was denied. The claim for an increased rating for Depressive Disorder was also denied, but the Veteran's depressive disorder is now rated at 50% from April 21, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened, and the Board grants a rating of 20 percent for ankylosing spondylitis with intervertebral disc syndrome. The claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, kidney stones, left hip disability, tinnitus, and neck disability are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a liberalizing regulation change.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives and for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is found to be related to service events. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.,Tinnitus was also found to have its onset during service and continues to this day, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, migraine headaches, corneal scarring, and tinnitus) have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her psychiatric disorders, tension headaches, and sinus disability. The AOJ must obtain VA outpatient treatment records from March 2013 to the present and schedule a VA examination for an appropriate physician to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of PTSD and DM were denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and there was no service connection due to lack of exposure to herbicides or other presumptions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, has been reopened. The appeal is granted to that extent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent for the entire appeal period, with a finding of occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, flashbacks, panic attacks more than once a week, chronic sleep impairment, and intermittent visual hallucinations.

The claim of service connection for a deviated nasal septum is reopened, but denied. The Veteran's PTSD remains at the 30% rating prior to July 7, 2010 and at the 70% rating thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, based on a finding that his current symptoms are related to a sexual assault he experienced in service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was granted, restoring the rating to 70 percent. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue regarding service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective November 12, 2009. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted with an effective date of September 13, 1974. The Court found that the medical records received in March 1975 constituted new and material evidence to reopen his previous claim of a nervous condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent prior to November 29, 2011 and in excess of 70 percent from that date. The rating was granted based on the severity of symptoms including occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to June 2, 2016 and denied for higher evaluation. For the period beginning June 2, 2016, his PTSD is rated at 70%, which is also denied for a higher evaluation. The cystic acne vulgaris is rated at 60%. The facial scar is rated at 10%. TDIU due to service-connected disability (PTSD) starting June 2, 2016 and SMC based on statutory housebound status beginning June 2, 2016 are granted.