PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for additional compensation for his dependent spouse was denied because the effective date could not be earlier than February 18, 2015 due to a one-year waiting period from notification of the rating decision and receipt of evidence of dependency.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and additional evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder with features of OCD and GAD, and bilateral hearing loss are being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her PTSD and fibromyalgia, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being remanded due to their inextricability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the current psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and that the claimed stressors have not been corroborated.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, specifically regarding PTSD. The heart disorder claim is also being remanded as it may be related to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.,The Veteran's claim for obesity was previously denied and no new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD is related to in-service stressors involving fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service to determine if a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back condition and PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to assess the Veteran's claimed PTSD and any other psychiatric disorders, as the previous VA examination was inadequate. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a headache disorder were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a fungus infection of the left foot has been reopened. The VA is remanded to determine if he should be granted an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and a separate rating for his left ankle bi-malleolar fracture, as well as continue with the PTSD evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since May 8, 2012. The symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a different VA examiner regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a cognitive impairment (claimed as memory impairment).

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of sleep apnea, idiopathic anaphylaxis, and diabetes mellitus. The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. However, the appeal for service connection for depression disorder secondary to service-connected disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.