PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in September 2015, and he did not appeal this decision or submit new and material evidence within a year. He filed another claim on March 10, 2017, which reopened his original claim. The Board found that the effective date could not be earlier than March 10, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to his symptoms remaining constant at 70 percent levels throughout the appellate period.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at the maximum disability level (100%) from May 11, 2015. The other conditions remain at their current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and schizoaffective disorder, are related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and PTSD, but has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding stressors and diabetes etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD causes occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is related to a reported stressor during his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to outstanding medical records and potential need for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are at least as likely as not related to an in-service event.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his PTSD was dismissed as he requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD as they require additional examinations due to alleged worsening of symptoms since previous evaluations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective July 5, 2011. The issue of TDIU prior to June 23, 2013 has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's coronary artery disease remains on appeal as it has been rated at 30 percent since June 2016.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in November 2010, and the effective date of service connection is set to March 27, 2018, which is when he submitted his intent to file a new claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 28, 2007. Effective from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016, a TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol dependency is remanded as further development is required, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for duodenal ulcer and post-traumatic stress disorder is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during his hearing, stating that a grant of TDIU would satisfy his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation as the current evidence is insufficient to determine their severity.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking PTSD with major depression and alcohol abuse to the Veteran's cause of death. The primary cause of death was stage four lung cancer resulting in cardiac tamponade.