PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including nosebleeds, neck disorder, allergies, asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, bilateral knee disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), finding no new and relevant evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's in-service stressors are consistent with his reported experiences and credible testimony. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a supplemental VA examination to address the issues of service connection for PTSD and low back disability. The examiner must provide opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his military service, including as due to aggravation by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The VA examiner found that his symptoms are consistent with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative lumbar disc disease, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction, are found to be so severe that they prevent the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a higher rating for right shoulder separation and PTSD as of December 30, 2014. The remaining issues have been REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for PTSD from 100% to 50%, effective June 1, 2008, was proper.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to February 8, 2016 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 100% disability rating for prostate cancer, an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, and an initial rating in excess of 70% for PTSD were all denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the lowest possible rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

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

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent prior to April 26, 2017. Effective from April 26, 2017, the Veteran is now entitled to a rating of 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD.,For the period prior to April 26, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD was characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not warrant a higher than 70 percent evaluation, and his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder, and a lumbar spine disability. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the cases of Valley Fever and Asthma are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran engaged in combat during his service, which established the occurrence of the claimed stressors related to PTSD. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's PTSD, right knee instability, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.