PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential issues with service connection, including a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The TDIU claim also requires clarification regarding the Veteran's employment history.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current diagnosis is related to an in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is denied as there was no formal or informal claim prior to April 30, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right foot condition, left foot disability, PTSD, and TDIU was granted. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% prior to January 13, 2017, and 100% from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, PTSD, SFW left groin, thigh, penis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, resulted in functional impairment that precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period from December 19, 2011 to June 5, 2016. A TDIU rating was granted during this period.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as COPD and other conditions were ruled out. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s heart disability to his service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has vacated the portion of its October 31, 2018 decision that denied entitlement to a rating more than 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded and will be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, as required for a higher rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation higher than 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected psychiatric disability. The issues on appeal include entitlement to a higher initial rating for PTSD, TDIU, and earlier effective date.

The Veteran's misophonia with hyperacusis and PTSD have been granted service connection, a higher rating for PTSD has been granted to 70 percent, and the Veteran is now eligible for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, as well as tinnitus. The claims are being returned to VA for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent effective October 13, 2015. The earlier grant of a TDIU is also confirmed.

The claim for service connection of PTSD has been reopened. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, UAD, and UDD, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and PTSD, is denied. The earliest effective date applicable here is March 11, 2002.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 6, 2014, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The Board also finds that his claims for sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) require further development as they may be related to pre-existing conditions or personal assault during boot camp.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment prior to September 21, 2015. As a result, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of fibromyalgia and bruxism for further development, as VA examinations are needed to determine their etiology. The case of PTSD remains denied.