PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disorder, and kidney disorder have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service stressors leading to current mental health issues or a link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability with left lower radiculopathy and PTSD, to include depression. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury/illness linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and notification regarding in-service personal assault stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety, is being considered under direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her unspecified trauma-related disorder and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and PTSD have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected because the in-service stressor has been corroborated and linked to his current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his diagnosis and etiology. The case requires further examination and development of records.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD, effective October 8, 2019. The decision finds that the Veteran's total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD warrants this rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's in-service stressor and to provide a VA examination to identify the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision is based on inadequate notification regarding personal assault stressors and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation before November 20, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder (claimed as a nervous condition), was reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the November 2018 VA examination, which did not provide an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD and adjustment disorder during service and post-service treatment records also contain diagnoses of other conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD was restored to 50 percent effective July 1, 2015. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings related to PTSD, radiculopathy of both upper extremities, meralgia paresthetica of both lower extremities, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The issues were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent rating.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected back condition is granted.,The Veteran's multiple joint arthritis claim is remanded.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and right knee conditions are both remanded.,The Veteran's left knee strain rating is remanded.