PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including amputation of both lower extremities and other disabilities such as posttraumatic stress disorder, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, sarcoma of the nose, penile deformity with erectile dysfunction and voiding dysfunction, left upper extremity fragment wound with retained foreign body, buttock fragment wound with retained foreign body, left shoulder rotator cuff tear, diabetes mellitus, left wrist fragment wound, coronary artery disease, and tinnitus, have resulted in a need for higher level of care. The Veteran's condition necessitates the provision of daily personal health care services by a skilled provider without which he would require institutional care.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his alcohol abuse and its relationship to PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support the occurrence of a verified stressor related to military sexual assault. The diagnoses were not linked to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent since May 29, 2014. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are minimal to mild and result in no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, and educational functioning.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are credible and whether he meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current coronary artery disease and PTSD are related to his active service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, high cholesterol, enlarged prostate, and GERD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing both issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion regarding his PTSD between April 2010 and March 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as well as obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a scheduling error, and he will be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing. The effective date of the 100 percent rating for PTSD remains unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board is expanding the Veteran's claim to include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Depressive Disorder NOS. The case is being remanded for additional development of records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining all available VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating, and his kidney disability does not result in a compensable rating. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the kidney disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The request for TDIU based on this condition is granted as it now meets the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's PTSD disability rating from 50 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2012 was improper due to an incomplete VA examination and lack of sustained improvement in his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions and records, as well as to determine if any of the Veteran's conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC under VA regulations.

The Board denied a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of disability compensation in the amount of $33,110 due to fault on the part of the Veteran and lack of undue hardship. The decision also noted that the debt was not created by fraud or misrepresentation.