PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 22, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms of his PTSD more closely approximate a 70 percent rating and denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective September 28, 2007. This decision grants an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent from September 18, 2013 to February [REDACTED], 2019 and at 70 percent from February [REDACTED], 2019. He also received a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to properly address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his scars.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for the service-connected fractured zygomatic arch and has remanded the Veteran's claims regarding tension headaches, PTSD with cognitive disorder, and residuals of TBI.

The Board finds that the Veteran's renal failure and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his earnings have been below the poverty threshold level for several years. The Board granted a TDIU rating due to this condition.

The Veteran's claims are reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for PTSD, an initial disability evaluation for cervical spine condition, and bilateral shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment for the period prior to July 26, 2019.

The Veteran's hypertension, tension headache disability, and PTSD have been granted service connection. The Veteran's sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and CRPS secondary to trigger finger release are being remanded for further development.,TDIU and SMC issues are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the above-mentioned increased rating and service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral flatfeet with hallux valgus have been granted. The claim for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is based on direct evidence of a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. For tinnitus, the Board found that the Veteran's testimony about experiencing ringing in his ears during active service was credible enough to establish a service connection. The flatfeet condition claim remains pending as it requires further review by VA medical professionals.

The Veteran's PTSD and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings, but the issue of service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, left lower extremity PAD, left upper extremity PAD, right lower extremity PAD, and right upper extremity PAD due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to any acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and other-specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss, bladder condition, sleep apnea, PTSD, and headaches are all being reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of corroborated stressor, despite his reported military sexual trauma (MST) during active duty. The VA examiner could not find markers in the records that would support the claimed MST as the cause of the Veteran's current PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and MDD), but denied service connection for CFS. The rating assigned is 30% for the acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for genital warts has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for left and right leg conditions, left foot condition, right foot condition, vision condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder), and hypertension have all been remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depression, and insomnia disorder are denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for an insomnia disorder.