PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and the Veteran's lay assertions. Service connection for PTSD is remanded as there are insufficient records to verify the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 16, 2018 was rated at 70 percent due to significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 22, 2008. This rating is effective from that date.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged as the symptoms do not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened, and his PTSD with insomnia and unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective from February 6, 2015 to June 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tension headaches, cervical spine IVDS with DDD, LUE radiculopathy, RUE radiculopathy, and sleep disorder has been granted. The effective date of service connection is set at June 19, 2013. A rating of 50 percent for tension headaches is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability, PTSD, lower back disability, and TDIU. The appeal was remanded for a new VA examination regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, residuals of appendix removal, and acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence regarding current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss. The rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for gastritis, hiatal hernia, and GERD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain and/or tinnitus. The case is being returned due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, lower back disorder, TBI residuals, migraine headaches, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric condition to include anxiety and depression are not related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder due to insufficient information regarding his service stressors. The case will be reviewed with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all current psychiatric disabilities.

A 60 percent rating is granted for bronchial asthma prior to June 2, 2014.,A 100 percent rating is granted for bronchial asthma from June 2, 2014, onwards.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS, and alcohol dependence in full remission is rated at 50 percent from July 10, 2011 to January 30, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, a compensable evaluation for hepatitis C since November 26, 2010, and an increased rating for PTSD with dysthymia were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the current conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hand tingling and numbness, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder) due to secondary effects of service-connected post-operative residuals of left shoulder dislocation.,Specifically, the VA examiner was requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. A 20 percent rating is assigned for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee conditions.