PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions on the Veteran's psychiatric condition and outdated DSM criteria. A new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and requests for additional service records. The issues of service connection for PTSD and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination for PTSD. The claims are being remanded to allow for this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding in-service stressors. The log books referenced by the Veteran during his hearing are required to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor, which is a prerequisite for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including chronic myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles, cervical spine with pain radiating to the lower extremities, sleep apnea, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus type II, subdural hematomas, headaches, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected hypertension is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, needs to be evaluated under DSM-IV criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC. The issue of rating for recurrent lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is remanded due to evidence suggesting worsening.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and he receives a 10 percent initial disability rating for his headache condition. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral arm and leg disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment. The criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis are also not met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous condition was reopened and granted. Service connection for PTSD was also granted.

The claim for PTSD is reopened due to new evidence, and the case is remanded for further development of stressor verification.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but did not cause total occupational and social impairment. A rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD from June 29, 2017 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.