PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA treatment records and requests for private mental health treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for an unspecified stressor and trauma related disorder, finding that his symptoms are related to his reported Vietnam service stressors. Service connection for PTSD was not granted as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with alcohol dependence, insomnia, and hypervigilance requires further examination. Additionally, service connection for hypertension is remanded due to a lack of opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected PTSD. The issue of an increased disability rating for avascular necrosis of the left hip also needs additional development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for TBI and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay testimony suggests his sleep problems started in service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 23, 2009 for the grant of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and depression were denied initially, but later service connection was granted with a 70% rating effective October 17, 2017. The Veteran disputes the effective date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and Sleep Apnea due to incomplete records and need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to her active duty and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, is rated at 50 percent effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD, including the propriety of reducing his disability rating from 50% to 0%. The Veteran should be provided a VA examination and all relevant treatment records should be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depression, as there was no evidence linking the current conditions to service. The STRs were unavailable, and stressor events could not be verified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder) is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board found that his service-connected disability precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient verification of claimed stressors and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and PTSD, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for a variously diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including diagnoses of mood disorder, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. The claims for TBI, PTSD, interstitial bronchiolitis and respiratory bronchiolitis, asbestosis, and increased evaluation for COPD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, warrants a higher rating than the current 30% prior to January 28, 2015, and 50% thereafter. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed due to the unduly remote nature of the April 2015 examination.