PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA mental health examination to clarify the Veteran's current psychiatric disability and its relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and his erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable rating. The Board has granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that VA first received the claim on April 9, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran has occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to his PTSD symptoms.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records from the Veteran's service period and subsequent years, as these records may be relevant to determining an appropriate effective date for his PTSD award.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant's current mental health conditions are related to his military service or any other factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was granted effective from December 22, 1997. Service connection for right and left eye disabilities as well as a low back disability have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 13, 2016.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 or accrued benefits. The appellant is also ineligible for death pension as of September 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from October 7, 2013 to January 4, 2017, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a DRO hearing due to the failure of the RO to provide the requested hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and amputation below the knee, are found to be significant enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and thus denied service connection. The Veteran's hypertension was also not granted as the rating assigned is at the minimum level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his PTSD, as the last examination was approximately 3 years ago.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify in-service stressors, and provide a VA examination for his right foot pain and psychiatric disorders. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (low back, knees, hearing loss, and PTSD) preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. The claim for COPD was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and clarify the nature of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 13, 2014. The Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 50 percent is warranted.,Given the current disability rating and the evidence indicating the Veteran may be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected PTSD, TDIU is granted.