PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted a 100 percent disability rating, effective from December 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection for lung cancer is being reviewed, assuming non-smoking status and asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The case is now returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires assistance with his activities of daily living due to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore grants special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no indication of intent to apply for service connection before May 11, 2006.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including his claimed acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, and anxiety), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities. The remand includes a request for additional development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service stressors and current symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or render him housebound.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service in the Horn of Africa and a need for additional medical opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The appeal seeking increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and heart disability, is granted effective April 12, 2012. The issue regarding the reduction in disability ratings from 60 percent to 30 percent for heart disability is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the entire period from January 8, 2015. The reduction in prostate cancer rating to 20 percent effective June 1, 2011 was upheld, and restoration of a 100 percent rating is denied. An increased disability rating of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals from June 1, 2011 to April 14, 2015 is granted, but higher ratings are not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have worsened, and the Board finds that additional development is needed to obtain his treatment records from VA facilities. The Veteran will be asked to provide information about any private treatment he received at Army Tripler Hospital and Devine Grace Medical Center.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as PTSD with depressive disorder, are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, shell fragment wounds of the calves, and hypertension are found to have contributed substantially to his death from cardiopulmonary arrest.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and migraine headaches are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for clinically isolated syndrome (claimed as Multiple Sclerosis) is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD due to missing medical records and a need to consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with generalized anxiety was rated at 30 percent prior to June 30, 2015. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating are met and granted an initial 50% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (to include depression), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a rating in excess of 30 percent for diarrhea of uncertain etiology, and TDIU due to lack of competent evidence supporting these claims.