PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim due to new evidence provided by the Veteran's hearing transcript.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on two issues: whether a November 1995 rating decision granting service connection for PTSD should be revised due to CUE, and whether May 1996, July 1996, and February 1997 rating decisions denying an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD should also be revised on the basis of CUE.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, anxiety condition, and depression, as well as residuals of a fractured jaw. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and bipolar disorder are related to his service, with significant probative weight given to private medical opinions. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is granted, with the effective date set at February 22, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to two in-service stressors: a suicide incident and a bus accident. The VA has provided medical evidence supporting the connection between these events and the current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and sleep disturbance are granted service connection. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is denied, as the evidence does not support a separate diagnosis of adjustment disorder or anxiety disorder. The issue of service connection for bilateral keratoconus is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to bring his combined disability rating to 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or higher. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and grants TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and an initial rating of 50 percent for anxiety disorder with features of PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinion and need for a new examination to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the provision of any outstanding, pertinent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease with coronary artery bypass, migraine headaches, hernia, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 8, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the possibility of missing VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD with insomnia and depression should be rated at 30 percent prior to July 23, 2015, and 50 percent thereafter. The earlier effective date of January 7, 2013, for TDIU is also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to new and material evidence having been presented.,An initial rating in excess of 100 percent for COPD is denied. An effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for COPD is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for depression with agoraphobia and panic disorder symptoms associated with COPD is being remanded. The earliest possible effective date is May 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 10, 2012 for the grant of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate remains remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and back disorder were evaluated. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating for any of these conditions and remanded several issues including service connection for a left knee disorder, individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU), and service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and left knee disorder, but has remanded all issues related to service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or any acquired psychiatric disorder.