PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and personnel records. The VA audiological opinion will be obtained based on noise exposure as a driver in a Motor Transportation unit.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his diagnosis of PTSD is related to his combat experience in Iraq.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his military service. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for sleep apnea or PTSD.,PTSD is not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for borderline diabetes was denied, while his claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted and assigned a 70% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied the other two issues on appeal. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to a reported incident of military sexual trauma (MST) during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. However, it is determined that there is no causal relationship between any current acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and active duty or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing VCAA notice regarding PTSD based on in-service personal assault and scheduling VA examinations to address his claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and an increased rating for Parkinson's disease. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that includes additional diagnoses and a new stressor event.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD because new and material evidence has been submitted. The underlying issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD is addressed in the remand that follows this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression, did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, were not of such severity as to have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular A&A of another person. The claim for specially adapted housing is dismissed as moot due to his death.

The Board found that the February 1974 RO decision denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and malaria was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there were no indications of treatment or manifestation within one year of separation. The Veteran's arguments regarding CUE are not supported by evidence at the time.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacy of the September 2013 VA examination, and further development is required.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50 percent, but the Board has now granted a higher rating of 70 percent effective October 23, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service, specifically her alleged in-service harassment and an acute anxiety reaction during service. The evidence now shows a state of equipoise with regard to whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to service.

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

The Board granted the Veteran an initial compensable disability rating for his tinea pedis, denied increased ratings for his pes planus and headaches, but granted a higher rating (70%) for his PTSD effective from March 24, 2004. The effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits were also established.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD requires a grant of TDIU, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD symptoms.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed, including the association of any temporary files and the October 2009 substantive appeal with the claims file. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.