PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service personnel records and for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, and low back condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for residuals of a left knee injury, hemorrhoids, sleep apnea (recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder), and PTSD. However, service connection cannot be established as the Veteran's conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling new examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are being remanded to allow for a new examination and opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination regarding his left foot condition. The issues of service connection for PTSD and a left foot condition are under review.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain relevant treatment records and provide a new examination. The case will be readjudicated after the necessary development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and thus he is entitled to a TDIU. However, due to inconclusive opinions regarding his ability to work, the case must be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new VA examination. The current rating of 50 percent for PTSD will remain unchanged until further notice.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, and he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and Boutonniere deformity of both little (5th) fingers, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the late 1970s and a psychiatric examination to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to reconstruct his service records and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, recurrent left ankle strain, and tinnitus, are of sufficient severity to preclude securing or following substantially gainful employment. The criteria for a TDIU are met.

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 including a VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating effective June 14, 2016. He is also entitled to TDIU prior to May 25, 2016.,The Veteran's chronic frontal sinusitis was granted an increased rating to 50 percent effective February 10, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his disability and reconcile conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD alone warrants a TDIU (100 percent) rating, and his additional disabilities associated with diabetes mellitus result in a combined rating of 70 percent or more. Therefore, he meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.