PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluation of PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lower back disability, and bladder cancer have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder, and Alcohol Use Disorder due to a lack of current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-5 criteria. The VA medical opinions provided did not support an etiological relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent from November 7, 2007 to March 21, 2012. From March 22, 2012 to July 10, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. However, the issues of service connection for PTSD remain pending as additional development is needed due to missing evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder and major depressive disorder, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is related to burn pit exposure while serving overseas.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as there was no opinion regarding its relationship to PTSD with MDD and/or service-connected conditions, including burn pit exposure.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is remanded as there was no opinion regarding whether it is related to PTSD with MDD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration of his claims, including service connection for a sleep condition, increased rating for PTSD, and increase in disability rating for hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to August 28, 2016. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent and granted a 70 percent rating from August 28, 2016 onward.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.,The Board also denied service connection for a congenital heart defect, noting that it is not considered a disease or injury for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, and cold injury residuals are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TBI claim was denied as the evidence did not show total impairment, and separate psychiatric diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder were found to be related to his panic disorder without agoraphobia.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, heart condition, hypertension, and PTSD are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an unverified claimed stressor. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining missing records, verifying the stressor, and providing a VA mental health examination.

The Veteran's PTSD disability warrants a higher disability rating of 70 percent, effective September 23, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychological examination to determine if the appellant was insane at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge under other than honorable conditions (OTH).

The Board has granted an effective date of May 21, 1997 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depression disorder. The Veteran's claim was pending and not final at that time due to a misaddressed notification letter.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent for the entire appeal period, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 28, 2016 for the grant of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in July 2019 is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination. The Veteran's claims include service connection for PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and anxiety.