PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD with polysubstance abuse.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied because the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's treatment at TMC was for a medical emergency and VA approved payment or reimbursement for the initial treatment. However, due to his refusal of transfer to a VA facility, VA denied further reimbursement from June 29, 2017 through July 4, 2017.

The payment of adjusted military retired pay and adjusted VA compensation benefits in 2010 and 2015 was proper, as the Veteran received these payments despite receiving military retired pay. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD with somnambulism and for individual unemployability prior to March 31, 2018 due to new evidence received since the April 2015 rating decision. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to assess his current severity of PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date earlier than April 24, 2012 for a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The appeal was based on the argument that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a March 2010 rating decision that established service connection and assigned an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as he did not provide any communication indicating intent to claim prior to November 18, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for TBI and PTSD prior to September 22, 2014 have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in August 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is remanded due to incomplete medical records and a need to obtain SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's PTSD, ischemic heart disease, and COPD are granted service connection. The skin cancer claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD with psychological gastrointestinal reaction and mild anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and procedural issues. The Veteran's spouse must provide authorization for additional private medical records, which were previously rejected.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 100 percent from August 23, 2012 to December 7, 2017 due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of all reported stressors and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% rating from September 1, 2016 to January 24, 2017. The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, and liver condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot scars, low back disability, neck disability, coronary artery disease, skin disability, osteomyelitis, and PTSD due to incomplete records from the Veteran's National Guard service. The Veteran needs to provide specific documented confirmation of the unavailability of the missing records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse is remanded due to the need for updated treatment records, an examination, and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran contends that these conditions began during service or were caused by events in service.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder and agoraphobia resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to May 9, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating than 50 percent.