PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

Your appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an increased rating for lumbar spine arthritis, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent from April 10, 2015 to March 29, 2017. From March 30, 2017 to October 29, 2019, the rating was increased to 70 percent. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating beyond 70 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA will attempt to corroborate the reported in-service stressors and schedule a psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have rendered him materially less capable of resisting the effects of his fatal metastatic squamous cell cancer, renal failure, and cerebrovascular accident. Therefore, DIC benefits are granted.

The Veteran's PFB has been granted an increased rating of 30 percent, effective May 18, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have met the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating prior to April 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a review of the propriety of the reduction in disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for a kidney disorder, including chronic kidney disease and as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD with panic attacks, unspecified depressive disorder and TBI has been granted. A 70 percent rating is assigned for the psychiatric/TBI disability prior to August 19, 2014, and from October 1, 2014 to September 11, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously granted, and the appeal is dismissed. The Board has now granted service connection for a schizophrenic spectrum disorder, finding that it cannot be reasonably disassociated from his active duty service.

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted effective June 19, 2018. Separate compensable ratings for residuals of TBI are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with a 50 percent disability level.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder. The case is now being remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD due to lack of corroborated in-service stressor. The claim for increased rating of major depressive disorder is remanded as there may have been a worsening since the last examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), diabetes mellitus, multiple myeloma, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple myeloma, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for ischemic heart disease, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he contends is secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, with the effective date set at June 22, 2016.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for arthritis is denied.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression, is denied.

Your appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD with dementia has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted in full.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.