PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders her unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, gastritis with GERD, and fibromyalgia render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depression, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to his in-service experiences or his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD due to MST, anxiety and depressive disorder, is remanded as new evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to a lack of current diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria. The Veteran's in-service stressor was conceded, and he needs another VA examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder, has been rated at 70 percent since August 26, 2008. The Board granted an increased rating to 70 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records, complete the VA Form 21-8940, and schedule an examination to assess the impact of her service-connected conditions on her employability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence that a service-related stressor caused his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran’s claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; an initial higher (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss; and entitlement to a TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating greater than 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since his discharge from active duty in April 2005, and the Board has granted an effective date earlier than May 9, 2008 for the grant of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action, including providing notice and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, finding that he was not unemployable as he maintained employment in a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding the Veteran's disability benefits application.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the right leg condition is dismissed. The Board has also remanded for further development and opinion on his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD, as well as to assess the severity of her generalized anxiety disorder, lumbar disc disease and strain, and surgical keloid scar. The issues related to these conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with its previous remand directives regarding the verification of the Veteran's claimed inservice stressors and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction for further action.