PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected, with the condition being directly related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened, and he was granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral SNHL, sleep apnea, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (likely due to frostbite), and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and the residuals of a right shoulder injury is granted. The case is remanded for additional development, including verifying National Guard service periods and obtaining treatment records.

The Board has decided that the claim of service connection for hypertension due to PTSD should be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, a psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is inextricably intertwined with his headache claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has granted a 70% rating for the entire appeal period. The effective date of TDIU was granted as April 30, 2015.,The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss requires further examination to determine if he is entitled to an increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as he has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressors involving fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder is being remanded due to the addition of VA mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The effective date remains pending as it is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for CAD is denied as there is no legal authority to assign such a date, and CUE has not been raised.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for angioedema due to allergic reaction to medication remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, increased ratings for cervical spine and PTSD disabilities, and TDIU prior to April 3, 2018 were denied. The claim for restoration of the 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability was granted.

The appeal for service connection of arthritis of the hands, elbows, wrists and fingers has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection of a left knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left foot condition, and an eating disorder have all been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and lumbar spine disorder) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted the waiver of recovery for an overpayment of VA pension benefits, finding that it would not be against equity and good conscience to waive this amount as the Appellant incurred personal debts due to reduced VA pension benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% evaluation, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection on September 25, 2013 is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, anxiety, and depression have been rated at 70 percent since March 29, 2013, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a new psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with scoliosis deformity, bilateral pes planus, and PTSD has been granted. The Veteran is now receiving the maximum available rating of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with scoliosis deformity. His bilateral pes planus is rated as 20 percent disabling since October 15, 2010, and he received a temporary evaluation of 100 percent from October 15, 2010 to December 31, 2010 due to surgical treatment. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted at the maximum available rating of 70 percent since July 5, 2016.