PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and his combined disability rating is sufficient to grant a TDIU prior to August 3, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD or evidence linking any diagnosed condition to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, and fragment wounds. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to attend a VA examination.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective February 1, 2009 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were rated at 50% from July 13, 2010 to August 6, 2018. The rating was granted as the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective date and increased rating, as he withdrew his appeal. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to incomplete development and lack of VA examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is seeking entitlement to TDIU based on his PTSD, back, and knee disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for residual scars and a higher rating for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for further development. The prostate cancer claim is not addressed as it was previously denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and an initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his employability is most severely impacted by a non-service connected cerebrovascular disorder.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no effective date prior to June 18, 2014, for PTSD service connection can be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors, and a new opinion is needed regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder(s).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating effective October 10, 2018. Effective December 27, 2010, the Veteran also receives SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and in-service stressors or events.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, so her request for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and lack of a current diagnosis of PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if there is a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.