PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral tinnitus were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the promulgation of a decision.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to January 20, 2020. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.,Starting from January 20, 2020, the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder warrants an initial disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have improved, allowing him to work as a barber without difficulty. He is now rated at 50% for PTSD from February 5, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is worsening, requiring help with activities of daily living. The Board finds further development necessary to determine the current severity of her service-connected psychiatric disorder and whether fibromyalgia is a manifestation of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The PTSD rating is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and PTSD are found to be related to his military service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to loss of smell, taste, chloracne, psychiatric disability (PTSD), respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and burn scars of the hands. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating than 70 percent for mood disorder, PTSD, with major depression is denied. The claims for service connection for Reiter's Syndrome and TDIU as due to service-connected disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a need for a VA examination to determine if there is a link between the in-service stressor and current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim before April 11, 2016.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was also denied due to the lack of symptoms warranting such a high rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with sleep impairment, and sleep apnea. The claim for hypertension was denied as no additional evidence related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is related to his service, specifically his in-service combat experiences.

The Board dismissed all claims on appeal due to the Veteran's authorized representative requesting withdrawal of all appeals prior to the decision.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Issues include prostate cancer, lung cancer, non-linear and linear surgical scars related to lung cancer, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were previously denied but new evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease and acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential outstanding SSA disability records, as well as their inextricably intertwined nature.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arthritis and gout, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development of records and medical opinions.