PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 30 percent effective March 1, 2017. The symptoms associated with this rating include mild to transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety and PTSD) due to a lack of medical evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was rated at 70 percent prior to March 6, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms did not meet criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as there is no evidence showing he currently has or had PTSD during the appeal period. Bilateral hearing loss is not compensable due to the current disability percentage evaluation being zero percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail provided for a claimed in-service stressor and the need for further examination regarding PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is found to be causally related to her obstructive sleep apnea, which has been granted as secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of PTSD and spine condition, as well as his TDIU claim. The remand includes obtaining new VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions during the relevant periods.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, while claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notification and development for a claim of service connection for PTSD, as well as the need for an examination to determine the etiology of all acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's personal assault during service is also under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is now pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD with depressive disorder have been denied. The evaluations remain at 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and at 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding total disability rating based on unemployability, a higher rating for PTSD, and a higher rating for IHD. The Board dismissed these issues as the appeal has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a history of combat in Vietnam, which is related to his current depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his timely substantive appeal was not filed within the required time frame, and no waiver of timeliness is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease is rated at 60 percent since August 15, 2017. He was granted a TDIU beginning on that date.,Effective December 11, 2017, the Veteran has been awarded SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to concerns about the adequacy of previous examinations and the need for further evaluations.

The Board denied the claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, OCD, and PTSD. The new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to July 14, 2016 and has remanded the issue of whether a higher rating is warranted from that date forward. The Veteran's symptoms have been found not to meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 30 percent prior to July 14, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms including memory impairment and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions are related to service.