PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a personal assault during military service, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD related to the in-service personal assault. The Veteran had already been granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, finding that there was no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. However, his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (previously claimed as PTSD) has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory disorder have also been reopened and remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 16, 2011. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to lack of substantial evidence showing marginal employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's PTSD and MDD, as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 18, 2018, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbosacral strain superimposed on degenerative joint and disc disease. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a mood disorder, polysubstance abuse (claimed as nervous condition and PTSD) has been granted. The evidence received since the last denial indicates that the Veteran was newly diagnosed with PTSD based on an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a back disability has also been granted. New medical records indicate a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis, which pertains to a prior evidentiary deficiency regarding a diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than February 26, 2018 for the grant of service connection for PTSD, IBS, a back disability, radiculopathy (sciatic) of the left lower extremity (LLE), and tinnitus are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded.

A rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. The claim to readjudicate service connection for sleep apnea is granted, but the matter is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and alcohol use disorder render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been resolved in full with a grant of benefits. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD from 70 percent to full rating, effective December 1, 2018. The reduction was improper due to lack of evidence of sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's appeal to have an earlier effective date for his 100% PTSD rating is dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

An effective date of November 14, 2019, is granted for the Veteran's grant of service connection for PTSD. A rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD during the appeal period is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also denied as he has been shown to be gainfully employed throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD prior to June 18, 2019 is being remanded due to incomplete private treatment records. The Board requests that the Veteran provide information about any relevant private providers and attempts to obtain their records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% disability rating for PTSD. The right shoulder and back conditions are remanded due to procedural errors in the reduction of ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left ring finger disability is denied.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of his left fifth finger fracture is remanded due to the need for verification of periods of active duty training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions.