PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim, as it confirmed known facts and did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to support his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's report of being surrounded by flames in service is credible. The appeal regarding cause of death is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran’s service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in details of the Veteran's in-service stressor and difficulties in obtaining corroborating records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's knee, foot, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine their etiology.,The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the nature and severity of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and mood disorder. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to changes in his performance appraisals from entry to discharge.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence or lack of a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent from May 31, 2013 forward. The symptoms include occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and sleep impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (ischemic heart disease and PTSD) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 13, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD; service connection for a heart disability as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability; and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disability due to VA treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and anxiety disorder. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding tinnitus, PTSD, and requests to reopen service connection claims for bilateral ankle disorders before the Board made a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his TBI, head wound with hole in left frontal cranium, and tension headaches associated with TBI are remanded due to new evidence showing worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD and dysthymia, is currently rated at 50 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent medical records.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and she is granted a TDIU rating since November 1, 2012. The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further examination regarding psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial for PTSD service connection.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, and he received additional compensation benefits for his dependent spouse. The overpayment of $10,292 is waived due to the principles of equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, L1 through L4 is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for PTSD and assigns a TDIU based on the new diagnosis.