PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied in November 2011. The Board found that the new evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus did not reopen the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been denied, and the case is remanded to consider entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD prior to May 21, 2009. The evidence did not show that the Veteran met the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating under the schedular criteria for the period under consideration.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted, and the Veteran is also receiving special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both feet due to his service-connected reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Additionally, he is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile with adaptive equipment.,The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was also established, allowing him to receive additional benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with secondary alcohol abuse and unspecified depressive disorder, has not been rated at the maximum 50 percent level. The Board has ordered a remand to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective September 5, 2019. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his diabetes mellitus is rated at 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and Sleep Apnea were dismissed. The claim for reopening of her hypertension was granted, but the appeal is still pending as it has been remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether her hypertension is caused or aggravated by her service-connected hyperparathyroidism.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder, right knee and left knee disabilities were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals prior to a decision being made.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and TBI, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left varicocele are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cardiovascular disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied as the medical evidence does not support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service sexual assault, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the stressor reported by the Veteran was found to be adequate.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 22, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety (including agoraphobia), and depression have been reopened. The Board has decided that new evidence received since the last denial supports reopening these claims.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. The Board also denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and a left hand disability, both of which were claimed as due to the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence received since his last Statement of the Case. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any recent medical care providers and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, substance abuse disorder, panic disorder, and depressive disorder, was reopened. Service connection is granted for these conditions due to credible supporting evidence of the in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia, finding that it is a symptom of underlying disabilities (obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD).