PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions would have warranted a discharge for disability at the time of his separation from service and whether there is a relationship between his now service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and the immature personality disorder diagnosed during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and his military service. The Veteran needs further examination to determine if his PTSD and seizures are related to his service.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective February 5, 2010. The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder with disturbance of emotion and conduct, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis is also being remanded.

Service connection is granted for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for residuals of traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims are granted for osteoarthritis of the shoulders, knees, OSA, hypertension, CHF, diabetes, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for his cognitive disorder with recurrent major depression with paranoia and posttraumatic stress disorder, secondary to Parkinson’s disease is denied. The claim of a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder and TDIU are remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records, including those related to Foumier's gangrene, alcohol abuse, and social impairments. The VA will conduct a new examination to assess the impact of these conditions on his employment capacity.

The case is being remanded due to the need for full compliance with contested claims procedures, including providing the Veteran and appellant with a copy of the VA Form 9 and informing them of their representation rights. The issue will be readjudicated after a possible response from the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unemployable as of July 15, 2010, and he is granted a TDIU with this effective date.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's PTSD, effective October 3, 2018. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for eczema and migraines due to insufficient medical evidence on which to base an opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 50% rating effective from November 27, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder. The Veteran needs further examination and additional records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective September 27, 2012. The Veteran also received a TDIU from October 1, 2015 to October 23, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, Conjunctivitis of the Left Eye, Residuals of Right Eye Trauma, and Bilateral Hearing Loss due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since February 15, 2012. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from October 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and PTSD, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete military personnel records and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Depressive Disorder, are being evaluated further.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not cause the level of impairment required for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher, and denied his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to August 4, 2014 was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the pre-amended or amended VA rating criteria.