PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of left eye injury, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches was denied. The claims for service connection for low back disability, heart disability, diabetes mellitus type 2, traumatic brain injury, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depression), and TDIU prior to October 11, 2011 were remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravates his hypertension, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas for the period prior to April 6, 2016. The disability rating of 50 percent was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his TBI with migraine headaches is rated at 40 percent. Both conditions are granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for a hearing and expressed satisfaction with the assigned disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of a higher rating for PTSD. The decision on both claims is pending.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS), is found to be related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and his TDIU claim are both remanded due to the need for additional development, including a more recent VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the evidence supports a link between the condition and service.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's consistent statements regarding her in-service sexual trauma have been corroborated by other evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim will be further evaluated with a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy, a skin disability of the body and hands, tinea pedis (jungle rot), and PTSD have been reopened. The evidence received since the previous denial supports these claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was denied, and the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and individual unemployability were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of chronicity in service or within one year after separation. The claim for hypertension was not granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure as the Veteran served in Vietnam. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations scheduled in conjunction with his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the current disabilities were related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and heart disability due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection, including a need for VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to service. The examiner must provide a clear and unmistakable opinion on whether the condition preexisted service or was aggravated by service.

The claims of service connection for gout, bilateral congenital pes planus, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.