PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his combat experience during active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and any current VA treatment records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's cause of death due to presumed natural causes, finding that his PTSD and MDD are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are found to be of sufficient severity to require the need for assistance with his activities of daily living. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions alone meet the criteria for SMC based on the regular need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw the issue.

The Veteran's tension headaches prior to May 18, 2013 were not manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months. The Veteran’s tension headaches are rated by analogy to Diagnostic Code 8100 for migraines. As the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's tension headache symptoms approximated the criteria for a compensable rating, his claim for a compensable rating prior to May 18, 2013 was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with post-operative residuals of coronary artery bypass surgery, posttraumatic stress disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy was withdrawn prior to a decision.,His bilateral hearing loss is rated as zero percent since June 7, 2012. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point during this period.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if there has been any worsening of the Veteran's PTSD since his last VA examination, and to address whether he is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are granted at the 100 percent rate due to his service-connected PTSD and at least 30 continuous days of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge was upgraded to under honorable conditions (general), thus removing any bar to VA benefits. The underlying merits of the service connection claims will now be adjudicated.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, acid reflux, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 18, 2004. He is also granted a TDIU effective from the same date.,The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused severe functional impairment and are manifested by social isolation, irritability, depression, and suicidal/homicidal ideation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective date of August 27, 2008 for PTSD and service connection for muscle and joint pain and physical weakness.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since July 2014. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's in-service head injury and PTSD contributed to his death from diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further development of the PTSD claim, including reviewing additional VA treatment records and the August 2018 VA psychiatric examination report.