PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI and related conditions, including headaches, was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current psychiatric condition originated during or was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective October 21, 2019. Prior to that date, the claim for a higher rating was denied.,The Veteran also appealed for TDIU prior to October 21, 2019, and this claim has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability is granted, effective January 26, 2011. The Veteran also has service connection established for PTSD and sleep apnea.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of sinusitis, chronic headaches, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no factual ascertainable increase in severity within a year prior to April 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled DRO hearing. The remaining issues are still under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider combined effects of service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for a VA examination of his right knee disability, and another VA examination or opinion regarding the combined effects of his impairments.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in a total occupational and social impairment for the entire appeal period, warranting the maximum evaluation of 100 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, but no higher, effective from July 22, 2010. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder was denied, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation. The Veteran also had claims for service connection for adjustment disorder which were denied.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of right perforated tympanic membrane, bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathies are all denied as there is no evidence to support the presence of these conditions in service or a direct relationship to service.,ED was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting its connection to service.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his condition. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the PTSD rating claim.

The Board denied the claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, OCD, and PTSD. The new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, mild thoracic scoliosis and arthritis with multi-level lumbar spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Veteran will also be asked to provide stressor statements for his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, TBI residuals, and chronic headaches have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since October 31, 2011. The Board has granted an extraschedular Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for the period from October 31, 2011 to April 10, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his combat experience in service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were found to warrant a 70 percent initial evaluation from May 24, 2011, to June 3, 2016. The TDIU appeal was granted for the same period.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of October 7, 2002 for PTSD service connection is granted. The claims for new and material evidence for diabetes mellitus, increased disability rating for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide agent exposure, service connection for cataracts secondary to diabetes mellitus, and service connection for residuals of Agent Orange exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and cognitive disorder NOS due to TBI and post-concussive syndrome, with MDD and anxiety disorder are granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective February 13, 2020. The lumbar strain and scoliosis with degenerative arthritis and IVDS remain rated at 40 percent as of January 18, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board’s June 2017 remand directives and the need to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct a combined effects VA medical opinion.