PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and recurrent major depression, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating based on reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks, difficulty understanding complex commands, impairment of memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulties in work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The surviving spouse is referred for substitution and the right to request to be substituted as the appellant remains.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The cases of respiratory disability and sleep apnea are remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Depression due to a lack of current diagnoses and inconsistent in-service stressor accounts with military records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has not been rated higher than 20 percent, and he is granted a TDIU prior to May 18, 2011.,An earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is remanded due to the interrelated nature with the TDIU issue.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for PTSD, but remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disorder and heart disorder. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and ADHD; bilateral hearing loss; and right shoulder dislocation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new psychiatric examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner must determine if any of these conditions are related to service, particularly an in-service personal assault.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with anxiety and depression), sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding Vet Center records and for further development.

The Board has determined that an addendum opinion is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, as it may be related to service. The claims for PTSD and anxiety are also remanded due to their inextricably intertwined nature with the major depressive disorder claim.

The Board has decided that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 10% was proper. The case is being remanded due to a claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board has determined that a rating of 70 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and alcohol abuse. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorders were aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating, effective from February 17, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.