PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, uncontrollable twitching, vertigo, PTSD, asthma, skin disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,There was no medical opinion linking any of these conditions to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, finding that her symptoms are related to in-service stressors.

The claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to receipt of additional relevant service medical records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in severely impaired ability to establish and maintain effective or favorable relationships with people, but he was not demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that further medical assessment is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed acquired mental disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify in-service stressors and for obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is now pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD was granted. The initial rating for PTSD has been remanded due to a need for updated treatment records and clarification on past treatment history.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% rating increase for PTSD was denied. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of his informal claim on August 29, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for PTSD and an initial rating for a low back disability.

The Veteran's PTSD has caused total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, was not incurred or aggravated by service. However, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his acquired psychiatric disability, including alcohol use disorder, is considered to be attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from respiratory failure due to acute pneumonia, with underlying causes of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The Board found that the evidence supports a finding that PTSD contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety was granted service connection effective November 2, 2011. A rating of 20 percent for hypertension is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a total disability evaluation for the entire appeal period. The effective date of this decision is March 30, 2012.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions combine to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from October 5, 2006 to June 12, 2014 were indicative of reduced reliability and productivity but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted with an effective date of December 11, 1997. The Veteran's CAD rating from April 2014 to the present is granted at a 60 percent level.,Prior to September 25, 2010, the Veteran's CAD was rated at 30 percent and denied for an increased rating. After September 25, 2010, the Veteran's CAD is now rated at 60 percent effective from that date.