PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and missing military hospitalization records. The Veteran is also required to provide information about his private mental health provider and undergo a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include dementia and neurocognitive disorder, as it was addressed in the November 2017 decision that reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being held in abeyance until his other pending appeal regarding the coronary artery disease claim is adjudicated. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated based on a review of the entire evidentiary record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning and failure to discuss material evidence in support of increased ratings for PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as he did not submit a completed VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's initial 70% rating for PTSD remains in effect, and the Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for PTSD with schizoaffective, bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia effective September 1, 2016, as the reduction from 100% to 70% was improper due to insufficient evidence of actual sustained improvement.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for PTSD with schizoaffective, bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia effective September 1, 2016, as the reduction from 100% to 70% was improper due to insufficient evidence of actual sustained improvement.

The Veteran's acquired mental condition, diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder, is rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran’s lumbosacral sprain with lumbar degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board denied an increased rating as his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 50% effective September 18, 2017, but the appeal is denied for a higher rating prior to that date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claims for PTSD and individual unemployability.

The Veteran's PTSD and psychosis have been granted service connection, while her claim for a respiratory disorder is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, left and right knee tendonitis, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a claim or submission of any kind received since the prior denial.

The Veteran's lung cancer and shoulder conditions are remanded for further development, including obtaining records of possible herbicide exposure during service. The PTSD claim is also remanded for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's service connection for basal cell carcinoma was granted. The initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to April 22, 2015 was denied, but a 70 percent rating for PTSD beginning April 22, 2015 and TDIU were granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and PTSD were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims.

The Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD, effective from November 15, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence supports a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the appellant's character of discharge, compelling circumstances for his prolonged unauthorized absence, and whether he was insane at the time of conduct leading to his discharge. The appellant will be given an opportunity to submit evidence regarding these matters.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to November 28, 2018 is dismissed. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending and must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.