PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, traumatic brain injury, speech impediment, headaches, and insomnia due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a TDIU effective December 23, 2010.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased rating of migraine headaches, as well as the claim for a sleep disorder secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been considered in her current 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been granted. The Board also remanded the issues of increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, with consideration given to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s hypertension is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was remanded. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, with consideration given to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s hypertension is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen his peptic ulcer disease claim was denied. His PTSD claim resulted in a grant of an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from the date of decision. The SMC claim for PTSD-related disability was granted and effective from April 29, 2010, to December 21, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new VA treatment records and examination findings that show symptoms not previously considered by the RO. The issues include increased ratings for low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right leg amputation, and diabetes, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU as of May 17, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50 percent rating prior to November 16, 2017 and denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent from that date forward. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder NOS is granted at a 70 percent rating from February 27, 1998, to June 3, 2015. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding that the earliest date entitlement arose was July 22, 2010.,The claim for a 10% disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II must be dismissed as it is not related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional opinions regarding her sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected conditions or due to exposure during deployment.

The August 1995 rating decision granted a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD, which was upheld as not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent or permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and there is no evidence of housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and an earlier effective date for TDIU. The decision found that there was no current disability for hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating for PTSD or total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and his IBS and headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). His IBS and headaches are linked to this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for readjudication of all evidence added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied. A rating of 40 percent for TBI with cognitive disorder from November 29, 2012 is granted. An earlier effective date than April 17, 2007 for the award of a 30 percent rating for dermographism and an earlier effective date than November 29, 2012 for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a new examination.