PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance of another person as a result of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran will be provided with a VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of his diagnoses and their relationship to his reported in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to clarify his diagnoses and determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and major depressive disorder is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise that the current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including combat stressors experienced during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all issues except nonservice-connected pension, which was also withdrawn.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disability (to include bipolar disorder and schizophrenia), and PTSD. The appeals for service connection for gout, myositis, various musculoskeletal disabilities, sleep apnea, heart disease, ED, neuropathies, and depression are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, neck disability, low back pain, bilateral knee disabilities, cephalgia, hand tremors, restless leg syndrome, and respiratory insufficiency are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychological disability is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to the inability to schedule VA examinations at his current correctional facility.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the January 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, left knee chondromalacia with subluxation, right small finger degenerative arthritis, upper and mid dorsal spine limitation of extension, and residual surgical scar of the right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for adjudication of his claim regarding an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status and the issue of CUE in a March 2010 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will obtain additional medical records, conduct a psychiatric examination, and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of corroborated in-service stressor. The hearing loss disability received a 20 percent rating from December 20, 2011 to July 23, 2017 and a 10 percent rating since July 24, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50% rating effective October 29, 2012. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 30 percent disability rating prior to August 4, 2017. From August 4, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were all granted service connection. However, the Veteran was denied increased ratings for his PTSD, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. The aortic aneurysm, hearing loss, tinnitus, and cataracts issues are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The left shoulder disability secondary to the service-connected left foot disability is remanded for further review.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues were decided.