PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claim for secondary service connection for bilateral knee condition and radiculopathy is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations and requires a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD prior to April 2018, increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU prior to April 2018 are all denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder present since 2002. A new VA opinion is required from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma, which occurred prior to her active duty service but may have been aggravated by it during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to March 26, 2019 and his CAD is rated at 60%. The TDIU claim for the period before March 26, 2019 was granted but dismissed as moot due to the Veteran now receiving a 100% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at a higher 70 percent, but no greater. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily PTSD and coronary artery disease, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, effective March 18, 2014. The appeal to have the effective date earlier than March 18, 2014 is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by ileum cancer with metastasis, which is not service-connected. The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for a medical opinion regarding whether his military service contributed to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder is rated at 70 percent since March 11, 2017. The appeal has been remanded for further evaluation of the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for voiding dysfunction is dismissed, and the claim of earlier effective date for PTSD due to military sexual trauma is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's memory and concentration issues are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD and major depression were denied due to the finality of previous decisions. The effective dates granted are August 6, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 24, 2010 and the Board has granted this rating. However, a higher rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD after February 22, 2018 is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on service-connected PTSD is also remanded.

The Board denied an initial higher rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to January 17, 2019 and a higher rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran's PTSD was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation due to issues related to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis related to service.