PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has expanded the psychiatric issue to include major depression. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the alleged in-service stressor of personal assault.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and psychiatric disorders. The Veteran will need to provide medical records, verify his reported stressors, and undergo a VA examination for PTSD.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding increased disability ratings and service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, scar associated with CABG, unspecified depressive disorder, and cataracts. The Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran’s reported stressors and obtain an additional medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and schedule a VA examination to determine if the appellant was insane.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to June 7, 2018, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is denied.,For the period beginning June 7, 2018, an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for a lower back disability and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may be secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss from a head injury has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The claims for PTSD and acquired psychiatric conditions other than PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was also denied, with the current 20 percent rating being deemed appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is warranted, and to consider whether the Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities warrants a TDIU prior to May 29, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issues of rating PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is not etiologically related to a verified in-service stressor, and the claim for service connection is denied. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder is remanded due to lack of recent examination.

The Veteran is granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD prior to December 15, 2017. However, the claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent from that date is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disability, including as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's skin disability is related to his service-connected PTSD. However, further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's residuals of a malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with sleep disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms not approximating total social impairment or gross impairment in thought processes or communication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his functional impairments due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities because of a lack of recent VA treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% schedular rating, effective as of the date of the decision. The issues regarding right knee and left knee disabilities, cervical spine disability, and TDIU are remanded for further development.