PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a temporary total disability rating based on hospitalization for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective November 29, 2018.

Service connection for a heart disability is granted.,New and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral vascular disease of bilateral lower extremities, skin disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. However, no new effective dates are granted as the evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,Service connection for a heart disability is granted.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for the award of a schedular TDIU, and his education and occupational experience qualify him for such benefits. The nature and severity of these disabilities prevent him from performing gainful employment.,Effective August 20, 2015, ratings are granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (20%) and right lower extremity (20%).,Service connection is granted for PTSD with a disability rating of 70% effective March 9, 2015.,TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and ensure proper evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is at least as likely as not related to an in-service personal assault, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available. His hypertension is also rated as a separate condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to new evidence received after the previous denial.

Your original claims for PTSD and Depressive Disorder have been denied, but your case has been resolved as the RO granted service connection for an unspecified personality disorder (which was originally claimed as PTSD and Depressive Disorder). As a result, the issues of PTSD and Depressive Disorder are no longer in controversy.

The Board has decided the case in favor of the Veteran and remands it for further development, including verifying stressor events and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records and verify any unverified periods of service, including in the Air Force.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, and low back disability. The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and panic disorder, is related to and aggravated by service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are currently rated at 70 percent, but a higher rating is sought. The Board has ordered remand for further examination to assess the current severity of his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain, sleep disturbance, and PTSD, as well as the claim for TDIU due to inextricably linked issues regarding the character of discharge during the period from March 1990 to March 1996. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen an administrative decision finding that the Appellant’s character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits was also referred for adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to a non-combat in-service stressor event and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.