PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressor and conflicting medical opinions on his psychiatric diagnoses. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about a claimed in-service stressor, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a higher rating for PTSD before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2013. The rating is granted as the evidence shows occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was not appealed, so the attorney fees based on the October 2015 rating decision are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from October 25, 2016 to September 28, 2017. TDIU is granted for this period. The issue of service connection for dizziness/vertigo as a residual of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was not supported by medical evidence meeting DSM-5 criteria, and his major depressive disorder is not related to service. Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination for PTSD, and providing the Veteran with a VA Form 21-8940 to clarify his employment history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence. The Board also remanded his claims for increased evaluations for bilateral wrist CTS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to October 13, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of initial rating disability rating greater than 20 percent for a lumbar spine condition, service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for PTSD because the Veteran did not file a timely appeal. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma. The evidence did not establish a diagnosis of PTSD in conformance with DSM-5 criteria and the VA examiner found no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to June 6, 2016, and the Board denied a higher rating based on his symptoms not meeting criteria for a 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to January 31, 2019 and the Board has remanded for further evaluation. Other service-connected issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 15, 2018. His PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated as total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features and maladaptive personality traits have most closely approximated the criteria for a 100 percent rating since September 9, 2014. As such, he is granted an initial 100 percent rating for this disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to provide additional supporting evidence regarding his claimed stressors and undergo VA examinations.