PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for corticobasal degeneration syndrome and a higher initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effective from July 5, 2006. The decision is based on the presumption that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The case will be returned for further development, including new examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to in-service harassment from his superiors. The Board found new and material evidence supporting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective October 17, 2016. The Veteran’s PTSD and migraine headaches are both rated as noncompensable prior to October 17, 2016, but a rating in excess of 30 percent for his migraine headaches is remanded.,The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis was initially rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran’s appeal for an increased rating remains pending and the RO must consider all evidence since the January 2017 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on obtaining an adequate opinion from a mental health specialist.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was received on July 13, 2017. The Board found that the service connected disability most closely approximated a 100 percent rating at the September 5, 2017 psychiatric examination and determined that the appropriate effective date is September 5, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disabilities, hypertension, and testicular disability (other than erectile dysfunction) to allow for further development. The diabetes mellitus claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for status-post surgery of the 4th MTP joint of the left foot and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions worsened during his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal regarding increased ratings for PTSD, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or stressor events.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to September 23, 2013 and remanded for further development. The Board found the symptoms more nearly approximated a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and PTSD, has been reopened. The issue is now remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evidence.