PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and the cause of death (suicide) due to mental unsoundness. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is considered to have resulted from his in-service mental illnesses, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic dyspnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder) have been denied. The Veteran also had his claim for a higher rating for neurodermatitis denied.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service or being related to in-service events. The Veteran's current diagnoses were found to be unrelated to service, with chronic dyspnea and psychiatric disorders attributed to deconditioning and other non-service-related factors.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is being remanded due to new evidence suggesting a possible link between his service-connected conditions and his death.,The petition to reopen the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was denied as there was no evidence showing that any of the requirements for such benefit had been met at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Bayfront Health Brooksville on June 26, 2015 is denied because the care was not for a condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether his knee disabilities aggravated his diabetes, and verifying if he was involved in any operations related to Hurricane Gloria or a tornado in North Carolina.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent and an effective date of December 19, 2017 has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating is being remanded due to a potential material worsening of symptoms since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and PTSD are found to be related to his service. However, the Veteran's hypercholesterolemia is not a disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.,Service connection has been granted for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure in Korea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of PTSD, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a staged increased rating of 70 percent effective May 3, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection, particularly concerning PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation to determine if they meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU since April 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded. The issue of service connection for a disability manifested by dizziness, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and/or migraine headaches, is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. The current rating of 70 percent is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is seeking Section 1151 compensation for various conditions resulting from a pancreatectomy and related surgeries performed by VA. The Board has determined that additional disability was caused, but the specific cause of this disability (caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA) needs to be clarified.,The Veteran is also seeking Section 1151 compensation for PTSD, anxiety, and depression as a result of the pancreatectomy. The Board has determined that additional disability was caused, but the specific cause (caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA) needs to be clarified.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI with PTSD are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension secondary to his PTSD. The claim is also being remanded for a VA examination.,The Veteran seeks service connection for visual impairment secondary to his TBI and/or migraines. The claim is being remanded for a VA examination.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right ear hearing loss secondary to his TBI. The claim is being remanded for a VA examination.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inextricability of this issue with the PTSD and hypertension claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, have rendered him unemployable and the Board has granted a TDIU.