PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence. The claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, eye disability (blurred vision), bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disability (COPD, lung condition with patch), sleep apnea, prostate disability, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during service.,Service connection for residuals of left elbow fracture and C1 fracture are remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from April 18, 2019. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, effective August 29, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was initially filed on April 18, 2017. The effective date of the service connection award is set at the earliest possible date due to the filing date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of retinopathy, as well as his claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, were dismissed. A rating of 70 percent was granted for PTSD from March 4, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective August 31, 2012. The appeal is for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which includes detailed accounts of his stressor event and a VA psychologist's opinion linking PTSD to service. The claim will be re-evaluated based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the failure to consider evidence favorable to his claim and the lack of recent VA treatment records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current skin disability, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The case of bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and proper issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for lumbosacral strain is denied. The Board has also remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The case is remanded to determine if there was a pre-existing condition that did not worsen during service or if any current conditions are related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with adjustment disorder and depressed mood, which was granted in May 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied, but he received a grant of TDIU effective July 21, 2012.,PTSD is rated at 70% since May 2008 and the combined disability rating is 80%. The Veteran's last day of work was on July 20, 2012.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to military service.,Service connection was also not granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, nightmare disorder, and insomnia disorder), as the Veteran's contentions were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition and the evaluation of PTSD, finding that there was no current disability and that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are found to be at least as likely as not related to his reported in-service stressors of observing the death of a fellow soldier during service.