PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for a lumbar spine disability and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate prior examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was also denied due to the absence of any diagnosed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis, PTSD, chronic cephalgia, and right eye conjunctival laceration is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and right knee strain with limited flexion and painful motion are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since January 18, 2011. A TDIU is also granted from the same date.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases involving service connection and rating issues.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of his service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury, headaches, and posttraumatic stress disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding the Veteran's prior diagnoses of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The examiner must address these previous diagnoses in their opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals and their impact on his ability to independently ambulate. The examiner must address whether these residuals alone preclude locomotion without the aid of an assistive device, such as a wheelchair or walker.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no credible evidence that he engaged in combat with an enemy force and his claimed stressor did not occur. The Board found that the Veteran's statements about the stressor were uncorroborated.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board also found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether or not the Veteran’s currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 25, 2015, for a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The preponderance of evidence did not support an increase in severity prior to that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination for PTSD, and an updated examination is needed to rate the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability of issues with his PTSD rating appeal. Development on the PTSD issue will impact the TDIU decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are rated at a 70 percent rating, effective June 29, 2009. The symptoms include suicidal ideation, anger issues, difficulty in establishing and maintaining work and social relationships, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% evaluation for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show a worsening of her disability in the year prior to December 9, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion from a psychiatrist regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or its treatment caused his death.