PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for lung cancer and PTSD with polysubstance abuse, finding that the Veteran's conditions are presumed to have resulted from his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it. The claims for erectile dysfunction and prostate disability were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features was rated at 50 percent prior to June 19, 2013. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his cause of death, which was caused by cardiogenic shock and myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD is granted as August 9, 2007.,Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be productive of functional impairment comparable to reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining missing VA treatment records and attempting to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a nervous condition and malaria will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a new VA examination of his PTSD and further development of the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his other psychiatric diagnoses are not shown to be related to an in-service event or injury. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, affective disorder, depressive disorder, NOS, and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his diagnoses and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, MDD, and Schizophrenia based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The claim is reopened due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis of PTSD related to fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are service-connected, with the stressors being considered direct rather than based on a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's low back disability and cervical spine disability are currently service-connected, but the claim for acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as it has been reopened.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current cervical spine disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal includes two issues: one regarding the effective date for service connection of PTSD, and another concerning whether there is clear and unmistakable error in a 1992 rating decision denying service connection. The case is being remanded to address both issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board has determined that his PTSD symptoms make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure was granted. For PTSD, the rating assigned prior to May 15, 2014, is in excess of 50 percent and since then is in excess of 70 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective before May 14, 2015.

The Board has determined that an effective date of July 8, 2010 is warranted for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with major depression and alcohol dependence.