PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's death prevented the appellant from receiving accrued benefits for tinnitus and PTSD, as she remarried after turning 57 years old.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a disability rating of 70% from June 27, 2017 to September 19, 2017. The right shoulder tendonitis and left knee strain with laxity are granted initial evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The claim of CUE in the May 2009 rating decision denying entitlement to a TDIU is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to June 25, 2014 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for PTSD and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected knee and ankle disabilities. The case is returned to the Board for further consideration after a new VA examination and etiological opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD due to new evidence provided, but the case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating in excess of 50 percent, but needs more information from VA records to make this determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A VA examination is needed to determine if his current psychiatric condition is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety; initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss; and assessment of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to January 31, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 2, 2014. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's stress reactions of the right and left tibia, as well as her stress reactions of the right and left knee, are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia are granted service connection, while the issue of sleep apnea is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as they limit his ability to perform work that requires prolonged standing or walking and fine motor skills. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding whether he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his combat service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to his PTSD symptoms remaining largely unchanged since the last examination. The claims for service connection for unspecified rash of the feet and skin rash of the lower extremities, as well as Grave's Disease, have been remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence on record.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD and some of his other claims are dismissed. The diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for OSA and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and depression.