PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

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

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been denied. The Board found that no new or material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are supported by his credible account of in-service events and medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressors, including the death of a pilot he serviced and who died in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective January 31, 2017.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 0 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, sleep disorder, and depression, is now pending before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, or trichotillomania that is related to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's claim for hearing loss is dismissed. The Board grants a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from January 5, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 2, 2013, from December 1, 2013, to September 3, 2015, and from April 1, 2016, to June 27, 2016.

The Board found no causal connection between the Veteran's in-service lifting injuries and his current lumbar spine disability. For PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection due to lack of credible stressor events.

The Veteran's service connection claims for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, alcohol use disorder, and unspecified personality disorder, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD or other chronic disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to reconcile prior diagnoses and address the etiology of any psychiatric disability diagnosed during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD attributable to the verified in-service stressor.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified schizophrenia and mood disorder, was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity, including flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood. The disability is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination for PTSD and development of his TDIU claim.