PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, is remanded for further examination to determine the etiology of his condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.,Service connection was also denied for PTSD due to lack of a diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission to include nicotine dependence is rated at 100 percent for the entire period on appeal.,Service connection for a skin disability, presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange, remains pending and will be further evaluated.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including dysthymia, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, is not found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are currently rated at 40 percent each, but the Board finds that no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence of exceptional hearing impairment or significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and his claim for TDIU was also denied due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was initially rated at 30 percent prior to July 29, 2008. From July 29, 2008 to March 31, 2014, the rating was increased to 70 percent. After that date, a higher rating of over 70 percent is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective August 31, 2015. The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to issues with the effective dates.

The Board has denied service connection for a right leg disability due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service. The case is remanded for further development regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia and PTSD, including consideration of alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including back condition, cataracts, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, hypertension, stomach condition (including dysmenorrhea), sickle cell anemia, thyroid disease, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it was caused by noise exposure during service.,PTSD and depression/anxiety are granted on the merits, with a reasonable possibility of being related to service based on credible testimony and medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective March 22, 2016. The appeal for an increased rating or TDIU was denied as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating and she can still perform substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD, chronic dry eye, GERD, nephrolithiasis, and hypothyroidism have been dismissed. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.,For PTSD prior to January 25, 2018, the Veteran received a 50 percent rating which has now been denied. From that date forward, he is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The gastrointestinal and psychiatric disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there are no symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD and an earlier effective date for service connection were both denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board found no evidence of total occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under section 1318 of the U.S. Code are not met because he did not meet the requirement of having a continuous total disability rating for at least 10 years before his death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so an initial rating higher than 30 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD related to combat experiences during his service in Korea, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.