PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder and social phobia (PTSD) was also granted. Claims for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability were denied, while fibromyalgia was denied.

The Veteran's back disorder was granted service connection. The remaining claims for various other disorders were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD with sleep disturbance) due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's ADHD existed prior to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD, alcohol abuse, GERD, and skin cancer due to service connection issues. The claims will be further evaluated with additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The Board finds that his PTSD does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence showing occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such disorders.

The Board has expanded the scope of the Veteran's service connection claim to include all currently-diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran contends that his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to stressful and traumatic events he experienced while deployed in Iraq. However, the VA examiner found no diagnosis of PTSD but did diagnose major depressive disorder. The Board finds the January 2017 medical opinion inadequate and orders a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery bypass, diabetes mellitus, polyneuropathy of the extremities, and nephropathy, precluded him from obtaining substantially gainful employment for the period prior to March 5, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus. The appeal of service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is REMANDED. The appeal of an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is REMANDED. TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection was also denied for peripheral neuropathy as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for early-onset peripheral neuropathy under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD related to military sexual trauma, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his depression began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened. The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of her disability and whether it is aggravated by her headaches. Her headaches are also being remanded for an opinion on whether they are related to her military service or caused by her PTSD.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD (including major depressive disorder) is dismissed. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded. The claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and concluding that his depression was not caused by or incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and/or acquired psychiatric disorder was granted with an effective date of December 19, 1989. However, the appeal to obtain an earlier effective date is dismissed as there is no valid assertion of clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not permanent and total as of September 20, 2016. Therefore, the effective date for her Dependent's Education Assistance (DEA) benefits cannot be earlier than September 20, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The July 2013 VA examiner did not provide a nexus opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current depressive or anxiety disorders are related to his military service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no competent evidence showing that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to his active service.