PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right hip disabilities, hearing loss, PTSD, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability. The Veteran's appeals are also remanded for development in relation to his service connection for respiratory disorders and hypertension.

The Veteran's representative indicated that the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) satisfies an appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for higher disability ratings for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD, or if it was caused by these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30% since April 2013. The Board has granted a 50% rating for the entire appeal period, effective from the date of service connection.

The appeal for an earlier effective date of PTSD is dismissed. The appeal for CUE in the October 2004 rating decision is denied.

The claims for service connection of PTSD, hypertension, and low back disability have been reopened. The claims for hemorrhoids and head injury remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and PTSD. The Veteran was not found to have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's request to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored to 50 percent effective March 1, 2013. The issue of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since August 17, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), pleural effusions, asthma, sleep apnea, pseudobulbar affect, stroke residuals, thyroid tumor, atrial fibrillation, and headaches. The decision also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, adjustment disorder, and anxiety disorder is granted service connection. An initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids is granted. The Veteran's dermatitis is rated noncompensable under the old criteria but granted a non-compensable rating under the new criteria. Ratings are granted for tensional headaches since December 6, 2011 and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (previously diagnosed as circadian rhythm disorder). A compensable rating for temporomandibular joint disorder is also granted.

An effective date of March 14, 2007 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased rating for PTSD, service connection for migraines, and service connection for hypertension due to incomplete responses in the December 2017 DBQ report and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 18, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD and denies the claim. Other claims related to shoulder, elbow, back, and knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a skin disorder (tinea versicolor) and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent, while his left lower extremity radiculopathy and monoparesis are rated at 40 percent from September 14, 2015.,The Veteran was denied a TDIU based on the service-connected radiculopathies. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is aggravated by his PTSD, allowing for a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder. Additional development is required due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral foot condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and PTSD due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations.