PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective March 22, 2016. The appeal for an increased rating or TDIU was denied as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating and she can still perform substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD, chronic dry eye, GERD, nephrolithiasis, and hypothyroidism have been dismissed. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.,For PTSD prior to January 25, 2018, the Veteran received a 50 percent rating which has now been denied. From that date forward, he is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The gastrointestinal and psychiatric disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there are no symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD and an earlier effective date for service connection were both denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board found no evidence of total occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under section 1318 of the U.S. Code are not met because he did not meet the requirement of having a continuous total disability rating for at least 10 years before his death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so an initial rating higher than 30 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD related to combat experiences during his service in Korea, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder with anxiety and PTSD is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2014 VA examination, which did not consider the Veteran's March 2014 hospitalizations or his diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma and COPD, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to outstanding VA treatment records and further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his military service. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an addendum VA examination to address service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as a new VA examination for thoracic strain. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and hypertension is granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced in-service events linked to his current conditions and provided sufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his service.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea are dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for lichen simplex chronicus, nummular dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, and acne keloidid nuchae is not changed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability and remanded the cases of hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and their relationship to her service-connected condition. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and examination to address her TBI, left knee strain, migrainous and cervicogenic headaches, and service-connected psychiatric disabilities. The issues of rating the TBI, left knee strain, and migrainous and cervicogenic headaches are currently on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing medical records, and a VA examination will be arranged to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it is linked to his in-service stressor.