PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The reduction in the disability evaluation for PTSD from 70 percent to 0 percent effective September 1, 2019 was improper and has been restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his mental health providers and VA will obtain their records. Additionally, VA must attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors during his deployment to Okinawa.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back disability) is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed.,The reduction of the GERD disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent was not proper.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the opinion that it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to link these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, and a neck disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have all been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had acoustic trauma in service which led to his current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that no document dated between April 2004 and October 11, 2016 identified a sickness or disease relating to PTSD. The earliest possible effective date is October 11, 2016.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the sleep apnea being granted on a direct basis. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the diagnoses and resulting impairment of PTSD, as well as a lack of clarity regarding the impact on occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is causally or etiologically due to service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was granted effective April 23, 2018. The Board found that the error in his initial application did not affect the outcome and thus the original submission should be considered complete.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or a nexus between the Veteran’s reported snoring during service and his current sleep apnea, nor did it find sufficient evidence to establish a link between his PTSD and any other condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to a current diagnosis and credible evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as he did not submit a completed application within one year of submitting his informal claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and erectile dysfunction have been granted service connection, with a 70% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for heart disease due to VA treatment.