PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for reducing his PTSD disability rating and continuing TDIU benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to December 18, 2018 was rated at 30 percent and denied a higher rating.,From December 18, 2018, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder, to include chronic depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting assessments of his psychiatric disability and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if he has a psychiatric disorder related to service, including PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a causal link between the in-service stressor and his current diagnosis.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the rating for PTSD, as the appellant withdrew his appeal with respect to these issues.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, was incurred during his military service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD due to insufficient evidence from recent examinations, and requests that he undergo another VA examination.

The Board has denied the claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has remanded it back to the Board for issuance of an SOC on this issue. The appeal is now remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection, with a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The right wrist osteoarthritis claim was denied as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, while the PTSD with anxiety, panic attacks and depression claim resulted in an earlier effective date of November 29, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his PTSD rating from 50% to 30% has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied, and his claim for TDIU prior to December 2, 2010 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected hearing loss. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and vertigo or dizziness remain pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety) due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses that meet VA regulations, and because there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and left knee disability have increased in severity since their most recent VA examinations. The Board has ordered additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for Polymorphous Light Eruption (PLE) and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with panic attacks without agoraphobia, to include as secondary to the service-connected chronic otitis externa in the right ear. The Veteran's PLE was not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury or disease. His acquired psychiatric disorder was also not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board denied a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a 20 percent or higher rating prior to July 19, 2011. From July 19, 2011, his disability was rated as 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as recharacterization of the issue from service connection for specific conditions to an acquired psychiatric disorder.