PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD claim is rated at 50 percent, hypertension at a non-compensable rating, low back disability and left knee disability are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service. The appeal of this issue is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by their service-connected PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and asthma. The remaining issues have been remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to an in-service stressor of seeing mass graves while on active duty in Panama, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, while his TDIU claim as of February 2, 2018, and the remand for a higher rating for PTSD are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 4, 2015, but no earlier than that date.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and anxiety disorder, but has remanded the issue of service connection for GERD.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to a challenge to the creation of an overpayment. The Board will not address these issues at this time.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew his claim prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for residuals of prostate cancer and PTSD have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from June 22, 1972 to August 7, 2001. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed without prejudice. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no competent medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not have a current disability and her symptoms were related to bereavement following the death of her husband.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disabilities, left-sided hemiparesis, and posttraumatic stress disorder have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to prepare meals, manage medication, assist with hygiene needs, and protect himself from daily hazards.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 20, 2017. However, the Board found that his right wrist injury was the primary cause of his unemployment during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from September 4, 2013. The Board found that the symptoms of unprovoked irritability with periods of violence, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, disturbances of motivation and mood, anxiety, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, impaired impulse control, and chronic sleep impairment more nearly approximated a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting an initial disability rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD has been denied, and the case is being remanded to determine if a prior effective date for TDIU should be granted.

The Board has restored a 70 percent rating for PTSD and anxiety disturbance effective March 1, 2014 as the reduction was improper.