PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as related to in-service stressors. The Veteran's arthritis claim, including back, arm and shoulder conditions, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for further development due to the Veteran not being properly notified of VA examinations related to his service connection and increased disability rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left calf muscle disability, right elbow disability, colon cancer, erectile dysfunction, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a prostate disability and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for a back disability and PTSD has been denied. The rating for the back disability is currently at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but an initial rating in excess of this has been denied prior to June 6, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as it is a freestanding claim that cannot be filed after one year from the original decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has PTSD. A VA examination is needed to clarify this issue and determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD or unspecified depressive disorder, was caused by service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder warrants a rating in excess of 50 percent and his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and skin disability due to potential issues with medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's service connection claim is based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability to include generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD is reopened. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability to include generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD is granted. Service connection for other conditions such as cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and benign prostate hyperplasia are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and it is linked by medical evidence to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate those required for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records. The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left ankle strain, myocardial infarction (coronary artery disease), PTSD, and left knee arthoplasty are all under review.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed to his alcohol dependence, which in turn caused his death from liver failure and alcoholic liver disease. As a result, the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it warrants a disability rating of 50 percent throughout the appeal period. The case is remanded for additional development to determine if an increased rating in excess of 50 percent is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder were rated at 30 percent prior to February 3, 2010. From February 3, 2010, to July 27, 2010, the rating was increased to 70 percent. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating from July 28, 2010 onward.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for GERD and a lumbar spine disability are dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for TDIU beginning November 5, 2010 is granted.