PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's claims for TDIU and extraschedular PTSD rating are also pending.

PTSD with mood disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to June 17, 2017.,PTSD with mood disorder caused significant occupational and social impairment from July 6, 2012 through May 18, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The appeal is now remanded for further development and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his presence at Pope Air Force Base on March 24, 1994 when an F-16 collided with a C-130 midair. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether he witnessed this traumatic event and therefore service connection for PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran's tension headaches are being remanded for additional development due to the lack of recent medical records and a need for an updated examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities was denied as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions necessitate regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was remanded.,Service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spines was denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that the condition began during service or was caused by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, a new VA examination of his PTSD symptoms, and consideration of an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel records and VA treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess current severity.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to the evidence showing that he is able to secure and follow substantially gainful work. The RO granted service connection for additional disabilities during the pendency of this appeal, including prostate cancer residuals, erectile dysfunction, PTSD, mood disorder, diabetes, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran has not received a VA examination to determine the functional impact that these additional service-connected disabilities have on his employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD, which is now granted.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 70 percent rating, effective from March 29, 2011 to July 31, 2012, and from May 21, 2014. The Veteran's TDIU based on PTSD was also granted during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms such as occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of specific symptoms warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination of his service-connected PTSD. The current evaluation remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's lower flank pain, claimed as a left hip strain and residuals of left ovary removal, to include stomach pain, is not related to service.,There is no current diagnosis of unexplained syncope. The right eye disorder treated during service resolved without residual.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess his PTSD, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, right thigh scars, right thumb scar, and abdomen scars.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the right ear hearing loss issue. The remaining claims were denied as there is no legal basis for a higher rating.