PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, the relationship between his sleep apnea and service, and the nature and etiology of his PTSD are being remanded due to incomplete evaluations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD and substance abuse disorder are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and tinnitus, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or maintaining employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressor occurred in service. The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding causation of his psychiatric disorders. The case is also remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and allowing the Veteran to provide alternative forms of evidence regarding an in-service assault.

The Board has vacated the January 2019 decision due to a denial of due process.,PTSD and migraine headaches service connection claims are denied, while an eye disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than a cognitive disorder not otherwise specified was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of any residual TBI, and therefore, there were no residuals to grant service connection.,For the right ankle scar, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating prior to June 14, 2017 was denied as the scar did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The evidence showed that the scar was not painful or unstable and constituted less than 929 square centimeters.

The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, chronic left sternoclavicular joint disorder, left foot disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The appeal for PTSD has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and a need for further development of personnel records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to March 9, 2017 and as 30 percent from March 9, 2017 to September 10, 2017. The claim for a compensable rating after September 11, 2017 is denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) has been remanded and will be evaluated based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are related to his service or secondary to his service-connected Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, back disability, an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder disability, and an initial compensable rating for right shoulder scar have been dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD has also been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 100% effective May 31, 2016.,Prior to May 9, 2018, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a cervical spine disability have been granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder is diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, claimed as PTSD.

The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Right ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran's increased rating for PTSD and claim for drug dependence as secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his in-service stressors and granting the benefit of doubt.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 14, 2015, for the award of service connection for PTSD was denied. The claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, right ear and left ear are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied as the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, low back disability, right foot and leg disabilities, PTSD, and sinusitis with headaches. The appeal was not timely filed.