PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the periods from October 1, 2016 to April 11, 2017, and from June 1, 2018. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the Veteran has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment solely due to service-connected disabilities for these periods.

The Veteran's PTSD, DMII, hypertension, gynecomastia, and bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent, effective September 1, 2017. Service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a more recent VA examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD based on military sexual trauma. The appeal is remanded because the current diagnoses do not fully address the Veteran's claim and there are inconsistencies with previous diagnoses.

The Board has received new evidence since the July 2016 Statement of the Case and needs to review this new evidence before making a decision on your claims.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, and a 60% rating for CAD prior to May 7, 2019 was granted. The issues of service connection for Sleep-Wake Disorder were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, an initial rating for right knee scars, and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for additional separate service connection for depression, anxiety, and PTSD was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The issues of entitlement to a low back disability and an increased rating for other trauma and stressor related disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Depression was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent effective April 11, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU, as they require further examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, finding that his symptoms did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 6, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and in need of further development. The claims include psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular conditions, low back condition, and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, should be remanded due to insufficient discussion of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU. The remaining issues on appeal require further examination to determine the extent of his low back disability, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, with erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy, and residuals of a gunshot wound of the left hip.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent from May 15, 2013 to June 17, 2014. The Veteran's PTSD and diabetes are denied for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for skin disability and psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the claims for PTSD and anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of PTSD and service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss, GERD, and PTSD. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded three issues: increased ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.