PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a claimed stressor and for an updated VA psychiatric medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete records and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) have all been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from March 11, 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development and an addendum medical opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a VA examination applying DSM-V criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded for an updated examination to assess the severity of his condition, as it has worsened since his last assessment in 2014.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, dyshidrotic eczema of the hands, and thoracolumbar spine strain. The Board finds that there is no probative evidence that the Veteran submitted any formal or informal communications with respect to these conditions prior to his October 2012 claim.,The effective dates assigned by VA are the earliest possible under applicable regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is etiologically related to his active service. Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly in relation to exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (femoral nerve) was granted with a 20 percent rating effective from April 10, 2018. The Veteran also received TDIU benefits from October 16, 2015 to March 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 21, 2009 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's original claim was received on that date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted due to the occurrence of a stressful event during his deployment in Saudi Arabia, which he has consistently reported.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with secondary depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD with drug abuse and alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent, effective February 3, 2010. The appeal for a TDIU was denied due to the Veteran's employment history.

The Veteran's PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Substance Abuse Disorder are granted as service-connected. The TBI claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to a sexual trauma he experienced in the military, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and insufficient evidence to establish a link between current symptoms and service.