PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left-ear damage is dismissed. The Board grants a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD from February 15, 2008 to March 11, 2016 and grants TDIU during the same period.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent prior to January 28, 2014. The Board has granted remand for further actions on the issues of service connection and rating for recurrent fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), and a higher rating for PTSD from January 28, 2014 to June 1, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), back condition, and right shoulder disability has been reopened. The heart condition claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 8, 2010 for service connection of PTSD and for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of dry eye due to withdrawal. The claims for compensable ratings for seborrheic dermatitis, plantar warts, and PTSD are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's PTSD disability rating and TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, increased rating for PTSD prior to March 28, 2016, and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of relevant VA treatment records that have not been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and completing a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to July 28, 2014 and a TDIU rating prior to that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's fuel oil heating system was replaced due to its production of airborne irritants that aggravated his service-connected restrictive lung disease. The Board found the replacement necessary and granted HISA benefits for this modification.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran has PTSD and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied in June 2010, and no appeal was filed. The effective date of the current 70% rating for PTSD is October 26, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in November 2018, effective March 31, 2009. Since the grant of this benefit has already occurred, the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse are currently rated at 70 percent, but he contends that his symptoms have worsened. The Board finds a need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disabilities due to the lack of recent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The remands are necessary because the May 2019 VA examination is inadequate in addressing the Veteran’s occupational and social impairment related to his service-connected PTSD, and also due to the interdependence of the TDIU claim with the increased rating claim.