PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are related to service. However, a remand is required to obtain an addendum VA opinion or additional examination.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, but the cause of death (cardiac arrest) is related to his service-connected conditions. The Board finds that a medical opinion is needed to determine if PTSD caused or aggravated alcoholism/alcohol abuse.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, and his service-connected PTSD likely precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits were deducted from his retroactive award of disability compensation for PTSD, as the law does not allow for concurrent payment of both types of benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent evaluation, but the Board has granted an increased rating to a 70 percent evaluation based on near-continuous depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Veteran's claims for aid and attendance based on his service-connected disabilities are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the impact of his PTSD, keratosis, and tinnitus on his ability to perform daily activities. The VA needs additional evidence and a new examination to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, and alcohol abuse was granted a 70% disability evaluation for the period prior to June 11, 2007.,Entitlement to TDIU was granted effective from August 3, 2006.

Your claims for increased PTSD, erectile dysfunction rating, and TDIU are being remanded to review additional medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, but dismissed the claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, right ear hearing loss, and PTSD.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right foot plantar fasciitis were denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,For posttraumatic stress disorder, initial ratings from February 22, 2011 through November 23, 2015 were denied, while a rating of 50% was denied since November 24, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The initial rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to May 23, 2017 is granted. A separate rating of 10 percent for associated LLE radiculopathy prior to June 13, 2013 and a higher rating of 20 percent from June 13, 2013 to May 23, 2017 is denied. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted with a rating of 50 percent effective before May 23, 2017. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 13, 2014 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to October 5, 2000 is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service and medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to military sexual trauma. The evidence now shows that her PTSD and other mental health conditions are more likely a direct result of her in-service MST.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received after a previous SSOC. The Veteran is diagnosed with an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder and a depressive disorder, and a skin disability possibly related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 9, 2003, to March 18, 2008. The rating is denied as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the education and training for sedentary administrative work.