PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly concerning his alleged injuries and surgeries during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further development of medical evidence, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's CAD is caused or aggravated by his service-connected pulmonary histoplasmosis and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition due to reported worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD has been shown to cause occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, panic attacks, bilateral hearing loss, memory loss, and PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, right tibial periostitis, and left tibial periostitis are denied.

The Board has decided that further development is necessary before the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, can be properly adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing it manifested during service or within one year of service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 3, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD, hearing loss in the left ear, and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, additional development is needed to determine the existence and etiology of hypertension, right hand disorder, TBI, bilateral eye disorder, and neck disorder.,Hypertension has not yet been determined as incurred in service due to lack of definitive evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination that considers the impact of his hearing loss on his work capacity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including cardiac disability, shoulder and ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family, relations, judgment, thinking, and mood prior to August 23, 2012. From August 23, 2012 forward, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The appeal for TDIU was also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the RO granted service connection for PTSD and OSA, effective June 16, 2016. The issues are now pending with the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim regarding whether the appellant's character of discharge from service is a bar to VA benefits. The issue of whether the appellant was insane at the time of his misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since April 22, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating or TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, with entitlement to TDIU.