PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and an effective date have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD with an unspecified depressive disorder is being remanded for further evaluation and rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from November 9, 2012. The Board also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the effects of his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are granted. Ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, so a higher rating of 100% is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The Veteran is not competent to provide medical testimony regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The earliest possible effective date is October 27, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person.,The Veteran does not have additional right ankle disability proximately caused or aggravated by VA hospitalization and surgery in July 1990.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as it was not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability of any of the scars occurred within one year prior to September 22, 2014.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective from September 22, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and the residuals of a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, cause him to need regular A&A due to physical limitations. The Board granted SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder, as well as TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 1, 2017. The rating is effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. The AOJ is instructed to attempt verification of a stressor, obtain records related to disciplinary actions, and retrieve any outstanding clinical records from Whidbey Island NAS. A VA examination will be scheduled for the Veteran to determine the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating, and he is also granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disability other than bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.