PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and bipolar disorder. The decision is based on the credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The VA is instructed to obtain treatment records, verify stressor events, and conduct a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded because his service-connected PTSD and anxiety now require consideration under a different rating criteria, which may affect the outcome of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to his death. Effective dates of November 13, 2002 for the residuals of a right femur fracture with hip strain and right humerus fracture remain on appeal.

The Veteran's spouse was added to his compensation award on March 1, 2011. The effective date for this addition is denied as the necessary information was not received by VA within one year of notification.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder; heart disorder; and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia as a separate disability due to service or service-connected disability, finding that the symptoms of chronic sleep impairment are attributed to his service-connected PTSD and do not warrant a separate, compensable diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance due to resultant helplessness, which has been established by medical evidence.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 29, 2013 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran's condition warranted this rating since at least June 29, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) was denied because there were no verifiable stressors. The new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unemployable. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, right patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as right knee injury), and left patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as left knee injury).

The Veteran's VR&E benefits are being remanded due to the need for a vocational rehabilitation evaluation and functional capacity evaluations considering his service-connected disabilities, aptitudes, abilities, current educational skills, and proposed career changes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, congestive heart failure (CHF), and therefore grants service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective from November 18, 2008. He also has a separate 10 percent rating for asbestosis. The Board granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 8, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative conditions in multiple joints, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a left leg disability other than the left knee was denied. The appeal to reopen his PTSD claim was granted, and he is now receiving a 70% rating effective June 24, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, as well as his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The initial rating claim is also remanded.