PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder with anxiety and PTSD is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2014 VA examination, which did not consider the Veteran's March 2014 hospitalizations or his diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma and COPD, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to outstanding VA treatment records and further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his military service. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an addendum VA examination to address service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as a new VA examination for thoracic strain. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and hypertension is granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced in-service events linked to his current conditions and provided sufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his service.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea are dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for lichen simplex chronicus, nummular dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, and acne keloidid nuchae is not changed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability and remanded the cases of hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and their relationship to her service-connected condition. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and examination to address her TBI, left knee strain, migrainous and cervicogenic headaches, and service-connected psychiatric disabilities. The issues of rating the TBI, left knee strain, and migrainous and cervicogenic headaches are currently on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing medical records, and a VA examination will be arranged to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it is linked to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for TDIU as he has one disability rated at least 40% and his combined evaluation is less than 70%. His other disabilities are not sufficient to bring his combined evaluation to 70%.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest effective date was August 10, 2011.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 100 percent. The TBI has been rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 12, 2012 is being remanded as the evidence shows he has been unable to work due to service-connected disabilities since at least December 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. However, the issue of whether PTSD is related to military sexual trauma during service remains pending as a remand is required to obtain an updated VA examination using DSM-V criteria.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding any medication used to treat service-connected conditions and their potential contribution to the Veteran's death. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn prior to a decision being made.