PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his service stressor allegations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is remanded due to potential CUE in a previous rating decision. The Board also notes that the Veteran has provided evidence suggesting he experienced symptoms related to PTSD prior to March 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded both his claim for an increased rating and his TDIU claim. The VA needs to obtain additional medical records and assist the appellant in completing necessary forms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD, an increased rating for PTSD, and a TDIU. The evidence did not support the Veteran's contention that his hypertension was caused or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to new and material evidence. The TDIU and hemorrhoids claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, specifically obsessive compulsive disorder, is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and major depressive disorder is remanded due to lack of adequate etiology opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on his reported stressor and established by VA psychologists, and thus service connection is granted. For the heart disorder, the case is remanded as further evidence is needed to determine if there was herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health diagnosis raised by the record and has requested additional VA treatment records, service personnel records, and confirmation of the Veteran's Vietnam service dates. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding VA treatment records and the claims for service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and depression must be remanded to obtain these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient clinical opinions regarding the relationship between hypertension and PTSD, as well as a need for additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive mood, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s account of his service in Korea and opine on whether these conditions are related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were aggravated by service.

The claim for benign prostatic hypertrophy was dismissed. The issues of service connection for hypertension, insomnia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are inextricably intertwined and will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with Adjustment Disorder and Depressed Mood prior to October 10, 2013 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to February 17, 2003 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to February 17, 2003 was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, as well as a higher initial rating for his left shoulder disability, are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss and also denied his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the hearing loss, as it was rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. For TDIU, the Board determined that the appellant's combined disability ratings were sufficient to meet the criteria but concluded he could still maintain substantially gainful employment due to his work history and current physical condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issues regarding left and right ankle disabilities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records.