PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 24, 2017. The effective date for service connection of PTSD has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, esophageal cancer, and a respiratory disorder (emphysema) has been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or chronic symptoms related to these conditions that would warrant service connection.,Esophagal cancer was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for PTSD, but granted effective dates of March 8, 2016 for peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with MDD is granted, effective from August 12, 2012. The Board found that the evidence showed the Veteran had a current mental health condition at the time of his initial application.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% since September 21, 2015. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include substance abuse, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder other than substance abuse.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 11, 2016. Therefore, an earlier effective date for the TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran experienced an in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim in January 2018.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for low back disability is granted. The Board also finds a need for new examinations and opinions regarding PTSD and the etiology of his low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 16, 2017, for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the earlier effective date of January 16, 2017 is correct.,The claims for a back disability (including ankylosing spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine), radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in July 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective December 30, 2017. The Board found that the severity of her symptoms did not warrant a higher rating and denied both the increased rating claim for PTSD and the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and will require a VA examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service. The issues of erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD are also being remanded.

The Board dismissed all pending appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is rated at 100% due to total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder was rated at 70 percent prior to October 22, 2018. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and examination of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD is related to service. The VA needs to obtain more information and possibly seek additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion, and further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.