PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include paranoid schizophrenia and granted this claim on the merits.,However, the Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to May 23, 2012, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be substantiated due to lack of a current diagnosis and no evidence linking the claimed condition to service. The claims for service connection for arthritis, DDD, hypertension, and CAD are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a mental disability. The claims for heart disease and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not meet the criteria for financial assistance to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to be related to service, as the in-service stressor was not corroborated.,The cervical spine strain disorder and arthritis were also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Scott and White Clinic in Killeen, Texas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as the evidence did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran must be afforded a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has any acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and whether his diagnosed PTSD is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding service connection for residuals of cold exposure and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder. The new evidence does not meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining various medical records and Social Security Administration records. The appeal will be considered again after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on June 28 and June 29, 2012 are now covered by VA as the treatment was for an emergency condition that could have been hazardous to his health if delayed, and no feasible alternative care was available from VA or federal facilities.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, and left knee disabilities but denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current disabilities of the neck, low back, and left knee are considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not considered related to his military service as there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and post-service hearing problems.

The Board has found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 1996 RO decision that denied service connection for PTSD. As a result, the appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an incomplete examination and a need to address the Veteran's diagnosis of depression.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability were denied by operation of law as the Veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.