PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has found that an additional remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disability was caused or aggravated by his service. The case is being returned for further examination and a new opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a vision disorder, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and sleep apnea due to lack of current evidence or inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to the need for a current examination to determine the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to September 15, 2016 and 70 percent from September 15, 2016 to June 4, 2017. The claim for a TDIU prior to September 15, 2016 is denied.,The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent rating since June 5, 2017 and the request for a TDIU during this period is moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. Other claims are also remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his participation in SERE training during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, abdominal scar, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to February 6, 2018. From February 6, 2018 onwards, the Veteran’s PTSD did not result in total occupational and social impairment.

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

The Board denied service connection for a right great toe condition and an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD with alcohol dependency, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The Board found no evidence of a confirmed in-service stressor for PTSD and concluded that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are granted, as is a 70 percent rating for PTSD from March 17, 2017. The PTSD prior to that date is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to herbicides and the absence of a causal relationship. Service connection for PTSD is remanded as there are outstanding records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, PTSD, and Sjogren's syndrome. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. For PTSD, the Board noted there was no diagnosis of PTSD in the record. For Sjogren's syndrome, the Board concluded there is insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent from August 24, 2005 to March 24, 2015.

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, residual right wrist scars, and residual pilonidal cyst removal scar are granted. A 10% evaluation is assigned for the residuals of these conditions starting from November 6, 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for PTSD and anxiety disorder, NOS, finding that new evidence received since the June 2006 rating decision is both new and material. The Board then determined that service connection was warranted based on a personal assault during military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence is rated at 70 percent, the highest rating available. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with occupational and social impairment but without more severe symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and posttraumatic stress disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The case for keratoconus is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were denied. The Veteran was not granted any increased ratings or TDIU prior to May 18, 2016.