PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The back disorder is rated at 10 percent, while PTSD with depression is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's claim is reopened but a new VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

PTSD and MDD are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Veteran seeks a higher rating.,Obstructive sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, with no evidence of respiratory failure or tracheostomy.

The Board has denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and has remanded the issue of service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied as the evidence does not support that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,An effective date of August 15, 2013, but no earlier, has been granted for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. This is one year prior to the receipt of the completed Fully Developed Claim form by the Veteran.,The claim for an effective date prior to July 31, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no new and material evidence submitted within one year following the denial in May 2013. The RO reopened the claim but again denied it based on lack of a nexus to service.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded due to an inadequate opinion from the July 2016 VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to include as secondary to a service-connected disability is remanded due to an inadequate opinion from the December 2015 VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a headache disorder to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or tinnitus is remanded due to an inadequate opinion from the July 2016 VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his active military service. The examiner will also assess whether any pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 70 percent, and the issues of service connection for liver disability and hypertension are remanded.

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD and depression is granted prior to July 5, 2016.,An initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and depression is denied from July 5, 2016. The Veteran's attorney did not cite to any evidence dated after 2013 in support of the claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to December 18, 2013 is rated at 50 percent and the Board has remanded for further review.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, which renders the TDIU claim moot.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 18, 2012 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD but granted TDIU due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered after verifying the in-service stressors and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including suicidal ideation, near-continuous anxiety, and impaired impulse control, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD from August 20, 2013 to May 19, 2016 is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have most nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment, resulting in a 100 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The appeal of the issue to entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residual scar from bilateral ovarian cyst removal is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD rating and TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from specific facilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for another VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence and an updated evaluation.