PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than anxiety disorder, to include PTSD and Major Depression Disorder. The Veteran's PTSD is based on an established in-service stressor involving combat-related sniper attacks during his Vietnam service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The appeals are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent since October 21, 2011 and denied for a higher rating during the period between that date and April 8, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to November 23, 2011. The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied, and his TDIU claim is also denied. Both issues are remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case.

The Board has decided to remand several issues, including the rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), left hip disability, and TDIU. The decision also requires a new VA examination for each of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, specifically a lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to report for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50% effective November 13, 2014. The Board found that the March 2015 rating decision did not become final due to VA treatment records submitted within one year of the decision and not evaluated for new and material evidence. An earlier effective date of November 13, 2014 is granted for PTSD. Mechanical backache remains remanded as a new examination is needed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent for the period beginning on May 2, 2015. The symptoms include nightmares, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, anger, avoidance, impaired concentration, hypervigilance, and issues with trusting others.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and a 100% rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claim of an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD causes total occupational and social impairment including as due to disorientation to time or place, warranting a 100% disability rating effective from January 21, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder arthralgia and PTSD with alcohol abuse in early sustained remission require further evaluation due to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has resulted in near total occupational and social functioning due to symptoms such as violent outbursts, delusional thinking, and manic episodes. The Board granted a disability rating of 100 percent for the entirety of the appeals period.

The Board denied service connection for nodules on the lungs, PTSD, and hearing loss due to lack of current disability.,There is no evidence showing a current disability of nodules on the lungs. The Veteran's lungs have been noted as clear or with mild obstruction at most.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was received on February 13, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of factual ascertainability within one year prior to this date.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded as there was no formal application and his employment status needs to be determined.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids and PTSD were granted service connection. The rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the March 2012 decision. The symptoms include chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, anxiety, irritability and outbursts of anger.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his active duty service in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm. Service connection for PTSD has been granted.