PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD with polysubstance abuse is rated at 100 percent, the maximum rating. The Board also dismissed the claim for TDIU as moot due to the already assigned 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency benefits and SMC was denied. Dependency benefits were awarded to the Veteran's son (F.M.) on September 1, 2010, based on evidence of his enrollment in school within one year of that date. The Veteran is not entitled to SMC due to lack of evidence showing he requires regular aid and attendance or is bedridden/housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. Additional development is needed to verify stressors and obtain treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and MDD due to MST, finding that new evidence supports her claims. The Board also found that she is entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least August 8, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disorder, sleep apnea, right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The rating for lumbar strain remains at 20%.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for an upper and low back disorder, frostbite of both feet, and PTSD. The skin disability was granted a 10% rating effective from April 29, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the November 1998 decision, which did not consider a claim for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The Veteran's evidence supported service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic anxious distress features is etiologically related to his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service military sexual trauma (MST), and service connection for PTSD due to MST is granted.

The Veteran's applications to reopen claims for sleep apnea and left knee disability were denied, as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. The application to increase the rating of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was also denied, with the Board finding that the symptoms did not warrant a 100% rating due to the absence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, with two disabilities rated at least 40 percent. His service-connected disabilities prevent him from following or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 for a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's TBI residuals were rated at 70% from October 23, 2008 to January 24, 2013. The rating was denied after that period and the separate PTSD rating remains in place.