PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied a higher initial rating of 100 percent for the disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no valid diagnosis of PTSD consistent with DSM-V criteria and insufficient evidence to establish a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the requirements for a temporary total evaluation due to hospitalization.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet decided whether these conditions are related to his military service. The appeals for back and neck disabilities remain pending as they need further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various conditions such as hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cellulitis, PTSD, and a fractured right mandible. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus remains April 3, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 30% disabling prior to January 7, 2019 and as 70% disabling since that date. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and substance use disorder, is granted as service connected. The issue of entitlement to service connection for low back pain is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, but denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hallux valgus, arthritis of the feet bilaterally, sleep apnea, and PTSD. The claim for increased disability rating for calluses of the left toes was granted with a 10% rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension, which is claimed to be related to service-connected PTSD, should be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disability, residuals of right ear cyst removal, and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence submitted since the final decisions. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, anxiety) remains pending as it was not reopened.,Service connection is being remanded for the low back disability, residuals of right ear cyst removal, and diabetes mellitus due to unresolved issues regarding exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU due to outstanding VA records and a need for a new examination. The issues are not yet resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying any in-service stressors. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA mental disorders examination to determine if he meets the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and chronic depression, are granted. Service connection is denied for OCD, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from October 29, 2014 to August 12, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating since June 13, 2018. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was denied due to lack of evidence establishing a diagnosis and verified stressor. The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's initial rating for his PTSD has been denied, as the evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia and PTSD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hamstring disability, left and right upper extremity numbness and tingling, skin disability (tinea versicolor/tinea corporis), and PTSD.,Service connection is not granted for the appellant's claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability in any of these areas.