PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of efforts to obtain relevant mental health records from Beaumont facility reported by the Veteran. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with a 50 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity while on active duty. The claim will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. The diagnoses provided throughout the appeal period included PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records from the Vet Center and R. Yates.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD from April 11, 1989 and for the award of nonservice-connected pension benefits from March 12, 1993.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and GAD is rated at 70 percent, effective August 16, 2005. The TDIU claim is granted as of the same date. SMC for statutory housebound benefits is granted beginning March 23, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The left ear hearing loss disability was not found to warrant a compensable rating, while the head injury with chronic headaches claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to TBI was also denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder has been evaluated as a single condition, resulting in a 50 percent disability rating. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were both denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss due to the current level of impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private medical records, including those from Dr. Jabbour and VAMC Durham.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, which approximates the criteria for occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus, or diabetic neuropathy aggravated his sleep apnea. The appeal is currently in a pending state and will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 14, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for a TDIU, as he is capable of performing work in less stressful and socially active settings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding records. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.