PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with panic attacks, major depressive disorder, and PTSD has been granted a 70 percent evaluation effective January 18, 2017. The condition was previously rated at 50 percent prior to this date.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it resulted from in-service sexual assault, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD, CVA, and dementia are being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and restless leg syndrome are all found to be secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's palate salivary gland cancer is found to be due to exposure to herbicide agent (to include agent orange).,Service connection for the Veteran’s conditions has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, based on credible evidence of a personal assault during service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected, while his posttraumatic stress disorder claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that there is probative evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with DSM-5, a link between current symptoms and an in-service personal assault stressor, and credible supporting evidence of the occurrence of the stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy have been rated based on their individual effects. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction is being remanded as the medical evidence does not support a compensable rating.,The claims for left and right knee disabilities are also being remanded, with requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as secondary to his service-connected left hip disability due to lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no verified stressor.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has decided the case is not ready for final decision and has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-V criteria for PTSD, as his previous diagnosis did not conform to these updated standards.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and remanded the issues of secondary service connection for alcoholism and individual unemployability.

The Veteran's 100% disability rating for PTSD was restored from March 1, 2016. The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) has been rendered moot.

The Veteran's initial claim for PTSD was denied in January 2010, but the RO granted service connection and assigned a 30 percent disability rating effective September 28, 2009. The RO increased the rating to 50 percent effective August 1, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for higher ratings was denied as his PTSD did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to August 1, 2018 (30 percent), and since then (50 percent).

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded this issue for further development.,Tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected conditions. The evidence did not support an increased rating based on the severity of his knee disabilities or demonstrate that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and a need for further examination.