PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension (HTN) have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and MDD, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent prior to June 13, 2017.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, or hepatitis A. The evidence did not establish a verified in-service stressor for PTSD and there was no medical nexus linking current symptoms to service. For hypertension, there were no complaints or treatment during service and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service. For hepatitis A, the Veteran's statements regarding his history were considered but without additional examination findings, it could not be determined if he currently has hepatitis A or any residuals thereof.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,The Veteran meets the requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by total occupational and social impairment since March 23, 2011. The Board affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt and grants a disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD from March 23, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable criteria. The Board finds that his disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a clinical opinion regarding the relationship between his PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for consideration of new evidence submitted since the April 2014 SOC, including evidence from his representative in April 2017. The case will be readjudicated and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) will be issued if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD causes significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an in-service left eye injury, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and headache disability. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye injury is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 28, 2012, for the initial grants of service connection for PTSD, seizure disorder, and TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and notifying her of any inability to obtain the requested documents.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, tinnitus, or a back disability, due to his service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was granted. The issue of a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is still pending, and the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to lack of clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, stomach ulcers, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart disorder due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted. The Board found sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's account of being assigned to a security agency in Turkey during his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and anxiety disorder), chronic sleep impairment, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and nephropathy with hypertension. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.