PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military sexual trauma during service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial. The claim will be reconsidered without regard to the prior decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records. The VA is required to obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from the Fayetteville VAMC from December 2004 to February 2017, and any private medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, and he has requested a higher rating. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated treatment records and for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The appeal was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of her appeals for service connection for frostbite, posttraumatic stress disorder, and the cause of her death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for traumatic brain injury, chronic left ankle sprain, hearing loss in the left ear, and PTSD due to unclear evidence regarding TBI residuals and insufficient examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo further evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with dysthymia is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD based on in-service personal assault are not supported by evidence and requires further development, including providing notice and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records from 2000 onwards and private hospital records from Jackson Memorial Hospital. A new VA examination is required for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vision loss of the left eye, balance disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and memory loss) due to incomplete/inaccurate factual premises in previous opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified are related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressors of being forced to swim and being mocked by life guards, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are also found to be related to service.

Service connection is granted for PTSD, but denied for glaucoma. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is linked to his service in Vietnam, while his glaucoma is not related to herbicide exposure or diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disturbance due to nightmares, traumatic brain injury with memory loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depression. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is not due to service-connected disabilities, as determined by the VA examiner. The claim for special monthly compensation based on these needs is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded for further evaluation. The rating for PTSD remains in dispute.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder NOS, PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the current disability requirement of direct service connection has been met, and the remaining question is whether such is related to an in-service event or illness.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression are granted as service connected, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.