PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeals for posttraumatic stress disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA opinion to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service, including the in-service personal assaults. The Veteran's service records are incomplete and his entrance examination report is missing.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this issue due to insufficient evidence of current symptomatology.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to ensure a complete record for the Veteran's claims of increased PTSD rating and TDIU. A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The AOJ is required to obtain additional VA medical opinions, verify service dates, and attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective June 20, 2018. The issue of a higher rating for all radicular groups and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD were denied.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to PTSD was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied, and his initial rating of 30% for PTSD from November 25, 1996 to May 17, 2006 was upheld.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition. The appeal has been denied as there is no evidence of total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for further examination and development, including a TDIU evaluation. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess his service-connected right knee disability, left knee disability, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations on tinnitus, scar, dermatophytosis of the feet and crural region, PTSD, and Type-II diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to need for additional development. The claim for TDIU is also being deferred.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder and PTSD, has been rated at 30 percent since August 2006. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor. The claims for secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis and direct service connection for DM and Parkinson's disease were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. Service connection is granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as the issue of reducing his PTSD rating from 100% to 70% has been resolved. The reduction was improper and the 100% rating for PTSD is restored.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded for further action due to missing records from the Vet Center.

The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is dismissed due to the appellant's death.