PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD prior to December 4, 2012 is denied due to clear and unmistakable error in the December 2012 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the submission of new medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent since March 8, 2017, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is due to military sexual trauma (MST) during his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic blood vessel disorder affecting the brain is granted. The effective date of this decision is March 6, 2003.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with depression is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependency is granted a disability rating of 100 percent, effective from the date his claims were pending at the time of his death.

The claim of service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and insomnia have been remanded due to lack of medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in a previous rating decision, and the effective date of service connection is set to January 15, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, effective September 5, 2013. The awards of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are denied as not meeting the criteria for earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depression, is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive medical assessment of her condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 50% since September 2, 2014. The RO has determined that Code 9411 provides the better assessment of overall impaired functioning.,PTSD and TBI symptoms overlap in some periods but can be clearly separated in others.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to outstanding VA treatment records and employment records being needed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating for the condition. Effective January 7, 2016, he is also entitled to SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development regarding his service connection claims and rating issues. The Veteran wishes to withdraw his claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding military sexual trauma and a need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to VA's failure to obtain private treatment records from University of Wisconsin Hospital psychiatry ward, which is believed to contain relevant information about the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia was rated at 70 percent prior to September 19, 2018 due to significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, OCD, anxiety and depression, is granted. The claims for right knee, left knee, chronic fatigue (undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability), and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.