PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and updating the claims file with any newly associated evidence. The Veteran's most current mailing address will also be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence relevant to his TDIU claim. His hearing loss issue remains pending and will be addressed in a future decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for CFS and Substance Abuse has been withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for PTSD as a result of in-service personal assault stressors, but denied service connection for the other psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD with major depression, and the Board finds service connection for hypertension is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent for the period starting March 8, 2010. The Board also found that he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board finds no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and concluded that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension (HTN) have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and MDD, warrants a disability rating of 50 percent prior to June 13, 2017.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, or hepatitis A. The evidence did not establish a verified in-service stressor for PTSD and there was no medical nexus linking current symptoms to service. For hypertension, there were no complaints or treatment during service and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service. For hepatitis A, the Veteran's statements regarding his history were considered but without additional examination findings, it could not be determined if he currently has hepatitis A or any residuals thereof.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,The Veteran meets the requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by total occupational and social impairment since March 23, 2011. The Board affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt and grants a disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD from March 23, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable criteria. The Board finds that his disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a clinical opinion regarding the relationship between his PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for consideration of new evidence submitted since the April 2014 SOC, including evidence from his representative in April 2017. The case will be readjudicated and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) will be issued if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD causes significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an in-service left eye injury, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and headache disability. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye injury is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 28, 2012, for the initial grants of service connection for PTSD, seizure disorder, and TBI.