PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 50 percent. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and the need for further development, including obtaining additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 7, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to lack of information on when she first developed PTSD.

An effective date prior to March 17, 2011 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with depressive disorder) is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with depressive disorder) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.,Service connection was not granted because the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus or PTSD began during service.

The Veteran's service-connected right great toe disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The appeal for TDIU was also denied as his combined disability rating does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and PTSD as secondary to service-connected residuals of a head injury and TBI with residual headaches due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The symptoms of social withdrawal, panic attacks, irritability, sleep impairment with nightmares, and intrusive thoughts are present but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, and PTSD due to outstanding medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, other specified trauma disorder, and mild cognitive disorder. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, hypertension, cervical spine/ neck disability, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral arms and hands, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral legs, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral feet disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, thyroid disability, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nervous disorder, anxiety, and depression.

The claims for service connection for scarring alopecia (claimed as hair loss) and PTSD have been rendered moot due to the complete grant of benefits. The remaining issues, including sleep apnea, vestibular disorder other than vertigo, TBI, fibromyalgia, back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disorder, respiratory disorder, hypertension, and skin disorder other than scarring alopecia, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with Adjustment Disorder was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 22, 2016. The rating for his unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was increased to 50 percent effective March 22, 2016.,Both conditions are rated based on their impact on occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's reports of in-service stressors have been found credible, and his current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and PTSD due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent evaluation since July 16, 2010. A TDIU is granted due to the combination of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II with moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and a 50 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol dependence are granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left shoulder osteoarthritis are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and memory loss. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.