PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder) are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be remanded again so that VA may make additional efforts to develop evidence pertinent to his claim.

The Veteran's claim for depression has been reopened and granted.,Claims for bilateral hand condition, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, dissociative disorder) have been remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as they are more consistent with a 70% rating rather than a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 18, 2015, for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD was denied. The Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for DEA benefits under Chapter 35 before this date.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD remains in controversy. The RO previously granted a 50 percent rating, effective October 7, 2014. However, the Veteran is requesting a higher evaluation. The Board has ordered additional VA examinations and requested any outstanding treatment records to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection for various conditions, including shoulder conditions, PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disease from asbestos exposure, and low back joint and disc disease.

An increase rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted, effective February 4, 2017. The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD because the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and entitlement to TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding his diagnoses and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is either caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's right eye condition and hypertension were denied as they are not related to service. The Board found no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during service for the right eye condition, and there is no indication that the current wrist, back, ankle, and psychiatric conditions are related to military service.,The Veteran's bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities were remanded as VA needs to determine if they are related to her military duties. The acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and mental disorder for treatment purposes were also remanded due to the need to corroborate the in-service stressor.

The Veteran's hypertension, associated with PTSD with depression and anxiety, was not rated higher than noncompensable (zero percent) due to the lack of diastolic or systolic pressure elevation requiring continuous medication. The Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU is considered timely filed, and the appeal is granted to that extent only. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.