PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and cocaine use disorder render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of adequate medical evidence and reasoning in the previous VA examination. The case is now pending for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disability. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2016 VA examination and the failure to consider VA medical treatment records. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, and for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to service-connected benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The VA is instructed to verify all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA and obtain any outstanding service treatment or personnel records. They are also asked to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriately qualified examiner to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed erectile dysfunction and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. Service connection for a depressive disorder is granted, but service connection for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder prior to March 19, 2018 was denied. Since March 19, 2018, the Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's individual unemployability claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative changes is currently rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD with secondary alcohol use disorder and substance-induced depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent. Both issues have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing private medical records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records from his listed providers.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The effective date of his PTSD service connection is denied as it was not received until July 15, 2010. Other claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with anxiety, left knee disorder, and tension headaches secondary to tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder and sleep disorder claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to effective dates and initial evaluations for various conditions, including scar, migraines, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. The case must be returned to determine the proper substitute claimant.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case was remanded for further examination and opinion regarding obstructive sleep apnea, right elbow condition, right thumb condition, and gout.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to independent living services, including purchasing an enclosed tractor, a hay conditioner, and a wheel rake, as these items are necessary for him to achieve maximum independence in daily living.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or informal claim before December 17, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD and right shoulder disability have been granted 100% and 40% ratings, respectively, effective September 21, 2018. The initial rating for PTSD prior to September 21, 2018 is remanded, as well as the initial rating for Right Shoulder Disability prior to September 21, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and the Board has remanded his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and right upper extremity neuropraxia.