PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The effective dates of his service connection awards remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right hand wound with paralysis of the middle finger have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to evaluate the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The current evidence does not provide sufficient information for a determination on service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD and major depressive disorder are related to his reported in-service military sexual trauma. The examiner is also requested to address whether any other acquired psychiatric disabilities, including those not previously service-connected, are causally or etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus. The PTSD claim is remanded for further development and consideration.

The claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also granted, but the claim for hypertension remains pending as it requires further evidence to determine if there is a relationship with herbicide agent exposure.

The claim for direct service connection of a back disability is granted. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal to the denial of service connection for gunshot wound residuals, posttraumatic stress disorder, hypertension, heart problems, and prostate cancer is granted due to a timely Notice of Disagreement submitted by his representative in July 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed back disorder. The issues of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a right ankle disability, and a temporary total rating for left knee replacement were remanded by the Board in February 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran not being able to attend a VA examination and because his PTSD may be related to in-service combat stressors. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination to determine if he has PTSD and whether it is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of rating higher than 70 percent for a psychiatric disability and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding a TDIU prior to June 30, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has denied service connection for borderline personality disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD, and an effective date earlier than October 7, 2010 for the award of service connection for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from July 1, 2016 forward. The Board cannot take further action on this matter as the appeal was dismissed.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred, and thus service connection cannot be established.