PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its connection to service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent throughout the entire period of the claim, with impairment in most areas of life functioning.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective June 12, 2017. The effective date for the increased rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder, in remission, is rated at 50 percent and the Board has decided to remand both her increased rating claim for a new examination and her TDIU claim due to potential unemployability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than August 9, 2013 for a grant of service connection for PTSD because it is procedurally deficient and cannot be used to collaterally attack a prior final rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis of the right hand/fingers, left hand/fingers, and bilateral shoulders have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board found that tinnitus is related to in-service diving incidents.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 25, 2017 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including a statutory housebound award prior to October 25, 2017, is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The current disability rating of 50 percent is maintained.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and MDD due to insufficient evidence, including missing treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand for the VA to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran has had PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder at any point during the appeal period and if so, whether that disorder is due to an event or injury in service. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to various legs and feet, as well as an increased rating for PTSD. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran in May 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD, formerly characterized as anxiety disorder, was rated at 50 percent from October 3, 2002 through November 22, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from November 23, 2015 onward. A TDIU was granted effective October 3, 2002 through November 22, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and their relation to service. The Veteran needs a new examination to clarify his symptoms and determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 27, 2012 for the Veteran's PTSD rating from 30% to 70%. The decision was based on the preponderance of lay and medical evidence showing that the Veteran’s current PTSD symptoms most appropriately align with this effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his current psychiatric disorder is related to in-service events. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, GERD, diabetes, left knee disability, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder should be remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 11, 2014, for the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD is denied. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that his PTSD caused total social and occupational impairment in the year preceding receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's initial rating for posttraumatic stress disorder is granted at a 70 percent, but no higher. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 25, 2011 is also granted.