PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Service connection for a heart condition is denied.,Service connection for a left hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a right hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a lower back condition is denied.,Service connection for skin issues is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleep issues) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as his posttraumatic muscle contraction headaches. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to a confirmed in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social deficiencies with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation of PTSD with unspecified bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse disorder was granted, resulting in a 100% evaluation effective February 5, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date request for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI, which could impact his entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD prior to April 23, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his PTSD symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, and gastroenteritis. The new evidence received since the final denial is considered in conjunction with previous evidence of record and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to complications from a right hip fracture resulting from a fall. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is dismissed as moot because DIC benefits are considered a greater benefit.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in April 2019 are inadequate and remands the case for further examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service, and whether a preexisting condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of whether any acquired psychiatric disorder pre-existed service or is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating beginning May 10, 2016. The VA examiner classified the Veteran’s occupational and social impairment as reduced reliability and productivity, which closely approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to provide VA with information about any private providers who have treated him since service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's psychiatric disability and determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board also granted a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD, effective from the date of retirement.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the PTSD rating is dismissed. The Veteran's claim of a higher rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate prior examination and a need for updated treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for another psychiatric examination to determine his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.