PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for joint pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep disturbance, memory loss, fatigue, and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals from bilateral frostbite of the hands, residuals of bilateral frostbite of the feet, and PTSD due to conflicting evidence regarding the validity of the claimed stressors. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hand and foot conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied, as it is less likely than not related to service. The Veteran's bilateral foot arthritis remains remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 22, 2012, for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records and further action.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided the case is remanded due to inconsistencies in the diagnosis of PTSD and the need for further investigation into the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for PTSD, left shoulder tendonitis, right wrist tendonitis, and right forearm tenosynovitis due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, depressive disorder, and PTSD as there was no clear evidence of aggravation during service and no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for hot flashes has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of rating PTSD as new evidence was not submitted that could establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and a respiratory disorder are remanded due to inadequate medical evidence. The Veteran must provide additional information about his in-service stressor events and undergo further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his dermatitis of the bilateral hands and obtaining updated information regarding his employment status. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of July 13, 2010. This decision is based on the liberalization of a regulation allowing for service connection when there is evidence that the Veteran feared hostile enemy action during his tour in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, glaucoma, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sexual dysfunction, PTSD, and chronic pancreatitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his PTSD and TBI symptomatology, including whether symptoms can be distinguished between the two disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no prior filed claim before July 25, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his combined disability rating is at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), a neck condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, hypertension, low back condition, and bilateral foot condition are remanded.,The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus. The claim is dismissed.