PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a determination on his claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CAD).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied because he did not file a formal claim within one year of his informal claim, and thus the earliest possible effective date is July 28, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, insomnia, and depression. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular rating requirements for assignment of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, and Depression.

The Board has restored the Veteran's PTSD disability rating to 50 percent effective October 1, 2017, finding that the reduction was improper and that there is no actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination regarding the Veteran's reported in-service stressor involving a personal assault, including being touched and grabbed in his groin area outside his clothes in sight of many other troops by his Master Sergeant on the flight line at the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The remand includes attempting to corroborate the Veteran’s statements and scheduling him for a psychiatric examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD, and to obtain updated medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle condition, left foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and alcohol dependence), and bruxism. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back condition, pes planus, and PTSD. The claim for left ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to active service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and the case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent since April 9, 2012. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia and PTSD. The case will be returned to VA to obtain additional records and provide a medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, PTSD, and alcoholism due to a lack of VA examination or medical opinion. The Veteran's STRs noted frequent headaches, and his alcoholism may be related to his major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD causally related to his active service. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is remanded due to missing medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 25, 2014 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with traumatic brain injury is granted. The Board found that the criteria for a 70 percent rating were met in the year prior to his increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a review of his service records to determine if he experienced in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI. His PTSD symptoms are rated at 50% prior to October 9, 2014, combined with a separate 70% rating for TBI from that date.