PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of April 18, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for migraines, finding that the Veteran's migraines are not related to his active duty service and are not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD or tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus. The Court directed action consistent with a Joint Motion for Remand, finding that the Board failed to consider evidence of the Veteran’s ability to engage in substantially gainful employment. The case is now remanded for further consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a balance problem associated with PTSD and hypertension, finding that there is no relationship between these conditions and his in-service service. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's current hypertension may be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an increased rating to 70 percent, effective July 17, 2017. TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate have also been granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, are found to have their onset during service. The dementia is not considered secondary to the service-connected PTSD or other acquired mental disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examinations and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to determine if his current PTSD is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 25, 2013, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The earliest communication from the Veteran that may reasonably be construed as a claim for PTSD was received on March 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral plantar calluses due to insufficient evidence from recent VA examinations. The Veteran's request for a social and industrial survey, consideration of his SSA findings, and extraschedular review have also been addressed.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of duodenal ulcer, PTSD, and TDIU are remanded for further development.

The April 2009 rating decision denied reopening the issue of service connection for a back disability and PTSD. The Veteran's brother provided lay statements, but they were considered duplicative of previous evidence. Service records did not corroborate the in-service stressor reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD, alcohol dependence, headaches, cirrhosis of the liver, GI disorder, bilateral knee disorder, kidney disease, spleen disorder, hypertension, keratoderma (a skin condition), and sleep disorder are all secondary to his service-connected conditions.,The VA has not provided sufficient evidence regarding the onset or causation of the Veteran's GI disorder, bilateral knee disorder, kidney disease, spleen disorder, hypertension, keratoderma (a skin condition), and sleep disorder. The Veteran’s hepatitis C is also under review for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to decide the claims and requires further development. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, polysubstance abuse versus dependence, psychotic disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, MDD, bipolar disorder, substance induced psychosis/delirium, and personality disorders are remanded for additional examination and consideration of all available records.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated in light of new evidence, including a VA examination from January 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were severe enough to warrant a 70% rating as of April 29, 2012. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise and granted an effective date of April 29, 2013 for the 70% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression has rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to determine if he has any current psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to his service. The hearing loss claim also requires a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his assertions of in-service trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to an incident in service, and the Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.