PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board found the June 2016 VA medical opinion more probative than the appellant's contentions regarding the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity cold injury, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and PTSD were denied. The claim for right thumb tendonitis was partially granted with a temporary total disability period but not an increased rating above 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records and the Veteran did not meet the criteria to establish a link between his current symptoms and an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no medical link between the diagnosed condition and an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity numbness/neuropathy are granted, as new evidence supports reopening the claims. The claim for sleep disorder is denied.,Service connection for a sleep disorder secondary to PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his current Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder prior to December 13, 2016, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is related to an in-service explosion while stationed in Iraq.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and basis for denying service connection, failure to obtain potential of outstanding private treatment records from Methodist Healthcare, and failure to consider entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric condition other than PTSD. The Veteran's representative indicates that the private treatment records are no longer available, and they have requested a new VA examination.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service stressors in Chicago in 1968.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating. The VA examiner found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

An effective date of April 1, 2011 but no earlier is granted for a 70 percent evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive disorder.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle osteoarthritis prior to December 15, 2011 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeals concerning entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, right knee and lower leg condition, PTSD, and granted the appeal for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to physical and mental impairments, which has been granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 2011. The Board found that the symptoms and impairment caused by his PTSD have not more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment, thus denying a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew the claim through his representative.