PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the addition of VA treatment records, which need to be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety with irritability, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the presence of a separate appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which are pending before the Board. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance until these other issues are adjudicated.

The Board has denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and entitlement to a TDIU. The hypertension issue is related to herbicide exposure, but further medical opinion is needed regarding its etiology.

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

Your claim for service connection for PTSD and anxiety has been granted, but since the issue of anxiety was not yet certified to the Board at the time of your hearing, we are dismissing this appeal as there is no remaining case or controversy.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination in connection with the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran asserts that his PTSD, MDD, GAD, and somatoform disorder are related to missing a SOS signal during service. The Board finds a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling from April 1, 2015 to June 9, 2017 and from September 1, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms warranted this rating based on their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction. The TDIU issue is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, must be remanded due to lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with schizophrenia and his symptoms are associated with this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is denied as his combined disability rating does not meet the criteria for a TDIU. The appeal of the February 2012 rating decision assigning an effective date for tinnitus is denied due to untimeliness.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and schizophrenia. However, the claims are still remanded as the Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, with the effective date set at September 17, 2009.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits as the Veteran's service-connected major depression was not established until July 3, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD with associated depressive disorder requires regular care or assistance, and if so, what specific needs are met by such care.

The appeal of the denial of a higher disability evaluation for PTSD is dismissed. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain disability is remanded.