PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from December 28, 2010, to December 10, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to December 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a substantive rationale for the denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new opinion from a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or DM, type II. The examiner must consider articles that support the idea of a correlation between PTSD and OSA as well as a relationship between OSA and DM type II.

The Veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in all rating decisions which denied PTSD due to lack of medals denoting combat is dismissed because it was not plead with the requisite specificity.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, while his claims for bilateral knee disabilities and an undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War were denied. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted (PTSD) and others are not (bilateral knees and undiagnosed illness).

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected PTSD caused, aggravated or contributed to his dementia.

The Board has remanded the claims due to concerns about the evaluation criteria used and conflicting medical histories.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear etiology and need for additional examination. The issues include migraine headaches, basal cell carcinoma, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to incomplete VA treatment records, including those from January 2013 to June 2016. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his acid reflux disability will also be considered.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As a result, the benefit of doubt doctrine will be resolved in favor of the Veteran and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, to include secondary to tinnitus, hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal was also remanded for additional examinations related to total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to need for aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, impaired learning, and learning disability due to being hospitalized for meningitis. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for old myocardial infarction and CAD is denied, as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's PTSD with depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances is also denied, as it does not meet criteria for a 70% rating. Appeals for service connection for back injury, high cholesterol, hypertension, and esophageal condition have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's HIV is granted service connection, and he is awarded a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to confirm the Veteran's reported stressor of seeing another soldier drowning during his period of basic training and six weeks of additional training at Fort Lewis, Washington. The case will be reviewed again after attempting to corroborate this stressor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, were granted service connection as they are related to their military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,His bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and the reopening of a tinnitus claim. The tobacco use disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence it is related to active service other than in-service cigarette smoking.