PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, are granted as they are linked to her in-service stressors of military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for reopening of the previously denied claims of service connection for a left foot disability was granted. The claims for right hand, left hand, and sleep issues were not supported by evidence. The hearing loss and tinnitus evaluations remain at their current levels.

The Board has vacated the February 28, 2019 decision of the RO in St. Louis, Missouri and Indianapolis, Indiana regarding TDIU due to violation of due process rights by not discussing a vocational specialist's opinion. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee instability and patellofemoral syndrome are dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases for further development, including psychiatric and orthopedic evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it was related to a personal assault during service, which has been corroborated by evidence. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for having PTSD due to this stressor event.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for headaches is granted, with the opinion that his headache disorder is due to his service-connected tinnitus and schizophrenia.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD. The issues related to higher initial disability ratings for PTSD are currently on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a pre-existing condition and insufficient medical evidence to establish a current disability or link between the disorders and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated as compensable. The Board granted a 100% rating for his acquired psychiatric disability from July 7, 2012, but dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date due to mootness.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on his reported stressors, and there was insufficient evidence to support such a diagnosis.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD and has granted service connection for PTSD. However, the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded due to a lack of examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, a sleeping disorder, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, GERD, and cervical spine disorder. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% from July 22, 2014 to May 3, 2016 and at 70% thereafter. The reduction in prostate cancer disability rating was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total impairment. An initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.

Your claims of service connection for a mental condition, tinnitus, and a skin condition due to herbicide agents exposure have been granted. Your claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has also been granted. As such, your appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's TBI, right upper and lower extremity disabilities, and PTSD individually rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on the TBI rating effective October 23, 2008.