PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran did not provide sufficient information to establish a diagnosis or stressor related to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected. The right knee condition is reopened and found to be related to service, while the left inguinal hernia is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is found to be etiologically related to his service in Vietnam and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted, but the RO needs to determine if his condition has worsened and schedule a VA examination for this purpose. The appeal is being remanded.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma while in service. The case is REMANDED to obtain an examination and medical opinion regarding the existence and etiology of the claimed PTSD, including whether it is related to her active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and conducting VA examinations to assess the current severity of service-connected PTSD and the combined impact on employability prior to July 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent for the period starting February 16, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled VA examination, and his entitlement to TDIU is inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The case is being remanded to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% prior to April 30, 2014, and increased to 70% thereafter. The current rating of 70% is appropriate given the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, left and right foot conditions, low back condition, high cholesterol, bronchitis, sleep disorder, bilateral eye condition, arthritis, and sinus condition. The primary reasons are lack of in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of chronicity after discharge for other conditions, and insufficient herbicide exposure documentation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and employee personnel records. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and third degree burns and varicose veins of the lower extremities are found to have contributed substantially to his cause of death, which was Alzheimer's dementia. After resolving any doubt in favor of the appellant, the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities, which render him unemployable. The Board grants a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as his symptoms are linked to the conceded in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 2013. After a review of the evidence, including his testimony during the March 2017 hearing and VA treatment records, the Board finds that the symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating.