PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for cervical cancer, pharyngitis, asthma, and acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) were denied. The claim for service connection for digestive diseases is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and associated chronic depressive disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her mental disorders is being remanded due to the lack of relevant VA treatment records from October 2013 through October 2015, particularly those from her November 2014 in-patient hospitalization.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD with anxiety disorder as it was already adjudicated in April 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss have been granted service connection. The rating for PTSD is set at 50 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms are related to his in-service traumatic event and he is granted service connection.

The appeal for a back disorder is dismissed. The hepatitis C claim, along with its secondary claims for laparoscopic hernia repair, PTSD, and liver cancer, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination findings and need for further development. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, and sleep apnea are being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD) do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence does not show total occupational disability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including adjustment disorder with anxiety and PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his shoulder condition and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The issues of service connection for these conditions are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that this level of impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and knee conditions have resulted in a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective October 21, 2013. He has also been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded all other issues due to lack of evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for PTSD because the evidence did not establish that the veteran's PTSD was incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA service. The veteran had no active duty service and her periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA were not sufficient to meet the definition of a veteran for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions and an additional VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (previously diagnosed as PTSD with major depression) is denied, as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since July 2013 and denied for an increased rating.