PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, allergies, bronchitis, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service. The claim for hepatitis C has been remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding herbicide exposure. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and/or depression) has also been remanded for a separate opinion on both PTSD and depression.,The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, allergies, bronchitis, hypertension, and irritable bowel condition have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service. The claim for hepatitis C due to herbicide exposure has also been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her symptoms are not consistent with a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess his service-connected PTSD and determine if he has any other diagnosed psychiatric disorders that are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active service or secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for hepatitis C is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeals regarding an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and the effective date earlier than January 25, 2013 for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine, bilateral ankles, bilateral feet, COPD, a cardiovascular disorder, and PTSD due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for an examination and review of his in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for gout, to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse. The Veteran contends that his gout is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was initially denied in 1992, but reopened and granted effective June 27, 2014. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt of a petition to reopen the claim is the correct effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is remanded as further development is needed to verify the in-service stressors.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for MDD and a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inconsistencies in his service record and allegations of stressor events. The psychiatric disability claim is being recharacterized to include any diagnosed psychiatric condition, while the tinnitus claim requires additional evidence regarding noise exposure and a medical opinion on its etiology.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus alone did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 9, 2014 is dismissed as moot because the Veteran has already received a schedular TDIU effective from December 1, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action regarding his TDIU rating prior to January 26, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and TDIU due to new evidence indicating that his PTSD symptoms have increased since the last examination. The Veteran will need a new VA examination, and all relevant medical records must be obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. An initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted effective September 14, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 27, 2018 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and polysubstance dependence in sustained full remission was denied as the increase began over a year prior to the date of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD is dismissed. The Board also finds that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tear with joint osteoarthritis.