PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD and TDIU claims due to the need for additional medical evidence and an examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service, with the Board finding that there was no evidence of noise exposure causing these conditions.,PTSD was also denied due to insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for non-epileptic seizure associated with residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), residuals of TBI, tension headaches, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depressive disorder not otherwise specified and alcohol abuse, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or medications for PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for a flatfeet disability is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. Service connection for neuropathy of lower extremities (secondary to flatfeet) is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The claim for service connection for hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded as there is limited or suggestive evidence of an association between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and addressing secondary service connection issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and the claim for an increased rating is denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 10, 2015 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also granted an effective date of January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was initially denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. However, new and material evidence has been submitted showing a current diagnosis of PTSD related to combat stressors experienced during service.,Service connection for lung cancer is granted as there is no dispute regarding its existence.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection on multiple joint pain, cervical spondylosis, lumbar stenosis, ALS, and PTSD due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but dismissed the claim for hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service stressors, and there is no evidence of malingering.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in April 1995. The RO reopened the claim on September 15, 2014, and granted service connection effective from that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's application for S-DVI was denied because it was not filed within the two-year period after service connection for PTSD was established, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence to extend this time limit.

The Veteran's PTSD has been restored to a 70% rating, and TDIU was granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, left ankle disability, left buttock disability, painful scar on the left buttock, distal posterior scar on the left ankle, and distal posterior aspect scar on the left ankle are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess his major depressive disorder. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions that his right knee strain, left hip bursitis, or PTSD are related to military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.