PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD related to his in-service airplane crash landing and that it is at least as likely as not that he also has an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) that is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to verifying claimed stressors and obtaining medical records from Berlin, Germany.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his opioid abuse and/or dependency, which led to his fatal methadone intoxication. The claim is being returned to the RO for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange and stressors related to his service at Charleston Naval Base. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information for verification.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, vision problems, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as they are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered additional development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for non-service connected pension was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and TDIU due to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression. Service connection was denied for shin splints.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the presence of other conditions and symptoms. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety are related to service, including his allegations of handling personal effects of deceased soldiers and moving caskets. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST), and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to issues with the adequacy of VA examinations, including a need for new evaluations for PTSD, TBI, and residuals of TBI. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include PTSD, TBI, bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities, migraines, back condition, mouth condition, and sinusitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding a stressor event for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining deck log information from the NHHC.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining all relevant mental health treatment records from the period prior to January 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to insufficient compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's active duty and National Guard service are noted. Further development is needed by obtaining information about a casualty from December 1971.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence and have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's PTSD and hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from June 24, 2013. The rating is granted as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. The examination should assess whether the Veteran meets the DSM-V criteria for these conditions and determine their relationship to his active duty service.