PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective October 15, 2012. The Board found that the increase in severity of PTSD was factually ascertainable as of this date.

The Veteran's initial claim for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD was denied. The effective date of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as December 23, 2014. For PTSD prior to November 2015, the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his private treatment records.

The Veteran's Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was granted a 70 percent rating from August 23, 2012 to December 7, 2017 and a 100 percent rating since December 8, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the validity of the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and treatment, requiring a new examination under DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to his reported symptoms of olfactory and auditory hallucinations. The issue of TDIU is also remanded as it may be affected by the outcome of the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and CAD are being remanded for further evaluation due to evidence of worsening symptoms. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of the increased rating claims.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for DJD of the right ankle is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for corticobasal degeneration syndrome and a higher initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effective from July 5, 2006. The decision is based on the presumption that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The case will be returned for further development, including new examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to in-service harassment from his superiors. The Board found new and material evidence supporting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective October 17, 2016. The Veteran’s PTSD and migraine headaches are both rated as noncompensable prior to October 17, 2016, but a rating in excess of 30 percent for his migraine headaches is remanded.,The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis was initially rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran’s appeal for an increased rating remains pending and the RO must consider all evidence since the January 2017 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on obtaining an adequate opinion from a mental health specialist.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was received on July 13, 2017. The Board found that the service connected disability most closely approximated a 100 percent rating at the September 5, 2017 psychiatric examination and determined that the appropriate effective date is September 5, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disabilities, hypertension, and testicular disability (other than erectile dysfunction) to allow for further development. The diabetes mellitus claim is also being remanded.