PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded because new examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and TBI as there is no current evidence of these conditions, despite the Veteran's reported symptoms. The claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was also remanded due to lack of recent examination.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite on the left side of the Veteran's face, skin cancer of the left ear, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The conditions are found to be related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim is now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including low back disorders and cold injury residuals. The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are also remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, with the Board finding that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher than 20 percent rating prior to December 17, 2015 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.,A compensable rating (10%) was granted for headaches associated with hypertension. The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for MDD and PTSD from August 11, 2009 until February 23, 2012 was granted, with a maximum of 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for MDD and PTSD from February 23, 2012 to April 17, 2017 was granted at the maximum schedular rating (70%), based on occupational and social impairment due to deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of June 15, 2005. The initial rating assigned is 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including DM2, heart disorder, hypertension, blindness, stroke residuals, and an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Board found that there is no credible evidence of active service in Vietnam or any other period of war.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to May 4, 2017. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment. A TDIU was also denied as there were no indications of inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

An effective date of August 6, 2010 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.,A 30 percent rating for GERD beginning May 30, 2017 is granted. The Veteran's earlier claim to reopen service connection for GERD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent since May 11, 2009 and the Board finds that his condition will continue to be permanently disabling.

The Board has decided that another VA examination is necessary to assess whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor and to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is due to an in-service stressor and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist condition and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depression, but has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the criteria for service connection have not been met. The Veteran is granted a rating of 30 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity effective January 20, 2015.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to April 23, 2013, finding that the Veteran's symptoms warranted this level of disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow gainful employment prior to September 17, 2015.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD, testicular cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II are not granted as service-connected.