PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.,Tinnitus has not been present during the period of the claim or approximate thereto.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for PTSD in May 2014 was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus the appeal to restore service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied, and the appeal to reopen his service connection for PTSD prior to May 19, 2017 was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence provided in his February 2020 Board Hearing testimony. The case is remanded for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity, as well as for PTSD are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a specific stressor in service and concluding that his reported symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound residuals, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee patellar tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of October 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from June 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition. The case will be reviewed with additional medical records and a new opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Veteran's spouse was denied enhanced DIC benefits because they were not married for eight continuous years prior to the Veteran's death, and therefore did not meet the legal criteria for enhanced DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(2).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 50 percent prior to May 2, 2018 and denied in excess of that rating after May 2, 2018. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the effective date for PTSD service connection is remanded. The rating for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD, but the case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for COPD.

Service connection for CAD is granted, but the Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 50 percent. The effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has denied an initial rating greater than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to incomplete information and the need for additional VA treatment records. The AOJ must obtain all outstanding records, including private ones if identified by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for new evaluations.

The Veteran's fatty liver disease is granted a 10% rating from October 22, 2014. The anxiety disorder is granted a 50% rating from October 22, 2014 to July 5, 2017 and a 70% rating from July 5, 2017 to April 1, 2019. The Veteran's atrial fibrillation and carpal tunnel syndromes are granted initial ratings of 10%.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent disability rating for cervical spine spondylosis prior to March 8, 2018 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,A 30 percent disability rating is granted for PTSD from June 1, 2010 to September 10, 2014. A higher rating is denied.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.