PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as related to in-service stressors, including fear of hostile military activity. The Board also found that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for PTSD due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination. Diabetes mellitus remains at 20% disability rating and TDIU is also on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is being remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, as well as residuals of a left hand injury, is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, PTSD, and hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is related to his military service, his PTSD is linked to in-service stressors, and his hypertension does not appear to be related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and adjustment disorder. The evidence now shows a possible link between the Veteran's psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to March 21, 2013 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. The Board denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of her claimed disabilities, including bilateral shin splints, flat feet, ingrown toenails, and residuals of a tubal ligation. The Veteran is also being asked to provide more information about her psychiatric disability, which she claims as PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 100 percent since March 31, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, consisting of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 70 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been rated at 100% for the entire claim period, effective November 19, 2008. The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating. SMC at the housebound rate has been granted from April 19, 2016 to May 16, 2016, and from August 1, 2016 onward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further development. The issues include PTSD, depression, hypertension, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, right hand chemical burn, left knee injury, right tennis elbow and arm pain, bilateral shoulder pain, contusion to the neck, and residuals of a left ankle injury.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since March 25, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since March 8, 2011. The symptoms include suicidal ideation, irritability, hypervigilance, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is only marginally employed due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his abdominal disability is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for PTSD and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD. The decision on the hearing loss claim is pending, while the PTSD claim is currently being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of his initial claim to establish service connection. The Board affirms this decision and grants an additional remand for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for her acquired psychiatric disorder has been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence supported a finding that she is entitled to a 70 percent disability rating, but not higher. The evaluation of her chronic lumbar spine disability remains pending and needs further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that his symptoms began in service and have persisted since then.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence to support the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.