PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective February 2, 2021. The RO denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and GERD, but granted service connection for hypertension secondary to herbicide exposure and denied service connection for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, as there is no evidence that his current diagnoses meet the criteria for a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and that his depressive disorder began after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of hypothermia is denied as there are no credible in-service incidents or current symptoms related to service.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), TBI residuals, migraine headaches, left shin disorder, and right shin disorder are remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, loss of teeth, a rating in excess of 50 percent for mood disorder, DMII, and bilateral CTS due to potential overlap with other diagnosed conditions and need for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder under the DSM-5 criteria, including PTSD. The Board requires additional VA and private treatment records and an examination with a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and a 70 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran should be assigned a higher rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in addressing the Veteran's complaints of irritated, dry, and red eyes for his eye disorder and the need to provide notice concerning the types of evidence that might corroborate his reported in-service personal assault stressor as required under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD, diabetes mellitus type II, and malaria residuals prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since February 11, 2019. The Board grants the TDIU claim for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his treatment records from Reboot Recovery.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his right knee disability, PTSD, and TDIU prior to February 1, 2017. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The Veteran's migraine headaches are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his service or a service-connected condition. Service connection for BPH is remanded as the examiner did not address the in-service prostatitis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, laparoscopic hernia repair, PTSD, and liver cancer as secondary to hepatitis C due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, epilepsy, and a psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied as the new evidence submitted in 2014 did not require reconsideration under a specific regulation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and failure to obtain information regarding the Veteran's PTSD stressor. The case will be further developed for these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in its June 2020 decision, including inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider certain private examination reports. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case for new opinions regarding his sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected PTSD and exposure to contaminated water in Camp Lejeune and herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision.