PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for dermatitis, sleep apnea, abnormal thyroid condition due to Lithium use, PTSD with bipolar disorder, thoracic spine disability, LLE and RLE radiculopathy is denied. The appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2016. The combined rating of the service-connected conditions is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 11, 2010 for the grant of PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a claim within one year after his separation from service. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date would be February 11, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for further examination and evaluation, and the TDIU claim prior to December 18, 2015 is also being remanded due to potential inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, PTSD, and schizoaffective disorder due to MST. Service connection is granted.,An effective date earlier than April 2, 2013, for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to the absence of documentation regarding his current symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent and the Board has remanded both his initial rating claim for an increased rating and his TDIU claim due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his employment history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on several issues, including service connection and rating determinations.,An effective date prior to April 20, 2011, for the award of service connection for hypertension has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for shrapnel residuals of the left hand, anxiety disorder, NOS, and PTSD. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to outstanding VA and private medical records not being obtained.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome due to lack of a diagnosis, and remanded the cases for further examination and rating considerations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder and anxiety. The Veteran's account of in-service experiences needs to be corroborated by additional information from his military training practices.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,PTSD service connection is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if it preexisted service and was aggravated by service.,Bilateral hearing loss service connection is remanded as there are no audiometric standards used in the April 2015 VA examination, requiring conversion from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards.,Tinnitus secondary to PTSD or a service-connected disability is remanded due to its intertwining with the PTSD claim and need for a new VA examination.,Hypertension service connection is remanded as there are no audiometric readings provided in the April 2015 VA examination, requiring conversion from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards. Additionally, it needs a VA examination to determine if it is secondary to PTSD or medication for any service-connected condition.,Gastrointestinal and acid reflux conditions service connection are remanded as they are intertwined with the PTSD claim and need a new VA examination.,Vertigo service connection is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and review the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a skin disability, psychiatric disorder, and an increased rating for hernia residuals are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides/Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder, impulse control disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for optic atrophy of the right eye with no light perception and PTSD, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

A 70 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability is granted prior to and from July 27, 2015. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.