PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and diagnoses, including PTSD. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again with a focus on verifying combat experience in Beirut and addressing the validity of the reported sexual assault. The claim for sleep apnea is also being remanded as there was no valid Notice of Disagreement filed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in either case.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular criteria.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, and plantar fasciitis disabilities. The claim for eye disability (blurred vision) was also denied.,Service connection for sinus disability, pulmonary disability due to asbestos exposure, respiratory disability (residuals of pneumonia and restrictive lung disease), major depressive disorder, and PTSD were all denied.

The Board has determined that the current VA opinion is inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, as well as whether it is secondary to PTSD or congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The ratings for his PTSD and peripheral neuropathy have been established, with some adjustments based on when they began.

The Veteran's service connection for a mood disorder, including PTSD, was granted with an effective date of February 26, 2004, based on new evidence received in September 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for gout is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a disability claimed as 'arthritis throughout most of body' is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed and claimed as PTSD, is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are rated at 50 percent, but he contends they are more severe. The VA has not provided all relevant medical records in his case.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is dismissed because his anxiety disorder with PTSD features, depressive disorder, neurocognitive disorder, and alcohol use disorder has been rated at 100% by the VA. This renders the issue moot as he already receives a 100% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, while his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder not otherwise specified, was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for sensorineural conductive hearing loss in the left ear was denied. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of total unemployability (TDIU) has been remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to December 2, 2015 more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's body aches, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or unspecified depressive disorder) are all under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including corroboration of the Veteran's claimed stressors and examination for bilateral upper extremity frostbite.

The Board has reopened several claims, including those for PTSD, but denied service connection for other conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder condition and sleep apnea were not found to be related to service.

The Board has decided that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claims.