PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD due to service-connected left shoulder disability, as well as his claim for PTSD. The case will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions and verification of stressors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes and PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 21, 2012. The Board also granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to the disagreement over whether the Veteran has PTSD and its relationship to his service. The case will be sent back for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and a need for further examination. The claims include PTSD, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and depression.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 10, 2008 to March 1, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded for further consideration of the claims prior to and after this period.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent.,PTSD service connection claims were not granted with an effective date prior to April 4, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not prevent him from initiating or completing his chosen Master’s program of education prior to November 24, 2017. The Board denied the extension request as the disability alone did not preclude pursuit of his chosen program.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for PTSD is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an ear disorder (claimed as due to the PTSD), progressive muscular atrophy, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or an ear disorder, and the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.,Service connection was denied because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection as his claimed conditions are not related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for melanoma, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (including restless leg syndrome), and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (including restless leg syndrome).,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, cervical spine disability, ankle disabilities, skin disorder, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from May 31, 2012. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for another medical opinion.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of his appeals as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD and left ear hearing loss are granted, with the latter being effective from when new evidence was received. TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression and left scrotum varicocele, and the claim for this condition is granted.