PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several of his issues related to hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, bipolar disorder, headaches, sleep disability, and TBI.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. An updated VA examination is needed, and appropriate development should be conducted on the inferred TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for VA treatment records and an examination.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) after July 2016 VA surgery is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the CVA was caused by the surgery and if so, whether it was due to carelessness or negligence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a CVA secondary to service-connected prostate cancer is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing causation of the CVA and ureter disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for consideration of his PTSD, CVA, and other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inability to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor related to a plane crash during his service. The RO is instructed to attempt verification of the stressor and provide a formal determination on whether any in-service stressors can be verified.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's GAD and PTSD have been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective April 6, 2009. A TDIU has also been granted based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to September 15, 2017 is being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records that were not previously considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim is being reopened on new evidence provided during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and TDIU due to credible evidence of worsening symptoms since previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination. The issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as residuals of a head injury incurred in service.,The effective date for the TDIU is set at March 1, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to September 21, 2019 and at a 10 percent rating from that date. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated as 30 percent for the period prior to September 25, 2017; 50 percent for the period from September 25, 2017 to September 20, 2019; and 70 percent after that date.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for updated medical opinions regarding the service connection of hypertension, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by service-connected diabetes and/or PTSD.

The appeal of several issues has been remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened and service connection is granted, but the right knee and teeth ratings are still under review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims for service connection for a cut to the neck with scar and a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions do not preclude her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for PTSD and is remanding the claim for thoracic spine osteoarthritis with lumbar spine degenerative disease due to additional evidence needed.