PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from April 18, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of March 9, 2015. This is the earliest possible effective date given that the criteria to establish service connection were met at the time he filed his petition to reopen in March 2015.

The Veteran's claim for seborrheic dermatitis was dismissed as his representative requested a withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for major depressive disorder and tension headaches were reopened due to new evidence received since their final denial in February and March 2003.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are both granted, with tinnitus being related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with mild alcohol use disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective January 27, 2012. The Veteran also received entitlement to TDIU from October 8, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from March 11, 2008. This rating is effective as of that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and has determined that there is at least as likely as not that his current PTSD is related to MST. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD in accordance with DSM-5 criteria, and after-the-fact medical opinions have linked the condition to MST.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as it is related to the Veteran's active duty service, despite some conflicting opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities during the period from May 4, 2010 to August 21, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU for this period based on the severity of his PTSD and other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD meeting DSM requirements and the weight of objective evidence against a finding that any other psychiatric disorder is causally related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantial gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability on a schedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at a 70 percent evaluation from December 18, 2013, to December 17, 2015. The cause of the Veteran's death due to esophageal cancer and ischemic heart disease is also established.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the examiner did not provide a link between service and symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, and for gastrointestinal bleeding. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to his in-service experiences, while his chronic GI bleed was found to be caused by the medications he takes for his cardiovascular disability.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms and overall impairment more nearly approximated deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairments. The Board granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD and granted TDIU due to the combined effect of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. The Board finds the evidence to be in equipoise and grants service connection based on the Veteran’s reports of military stressors.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, MDD, hypertension, and a heart disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The issues include determining service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (MDD), as well as whether his hypertension and heart disability are related to his active duty service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent from November 14, 2012 to March 3, 2019 and increased to 50 percent effective March 4, 2019. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 3, 2019.,The Veteran's PTSD was also denied a rating in excess of 50 percent from March 4, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored to 70% effective May 1, 2014. The TDIU was also restored from that date.