PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and bilateral foot condition (plantar fasciitis) due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with anxiety, prior to May 23, 2017, and thereafter, has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder I with PTSD and ADHD, has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. However, the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms do not more closely approximate the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 26, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested as occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent. The Board denied the claim for a higher initial evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. A new examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any PTSD, including whether it is related to in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD, finding that there is no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 17, 2016 for service connection of PTSD and increased ratings for PTSD are denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 23, 2017 is remanded due to the inextricability with his PTSD rating claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD due to new and material evidence. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is remanded as it involves a different theory of entitlement (new and material) rather than service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase rating in his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with PTSD and severe depression was found to be no worse than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran was granted a 50% disability rating for PTSD from February 22, 2010 to November 3, 2015. From November 3, 2015 onwards, he is entitled to a 70% disability rating.,During the period of November 3, 2015 and onwards, his PTSD symptoms were severe enough to cause significant impairment in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue of TDIU, and a new VA examination is needed for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, left lower extremity condition, and right lower extremity condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals regarding TBI, PTSD, and sinusitis before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 27, 2009 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. Service connection was denied for Bipolar Disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of corroborated in-service stressors and the absence of evidence showing the condition began during or within one year after service.