PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, and skin disorder due to exposure to environmental hazards during Persian Gulf War service. The Veteran's claims of chronic joint pain and acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and PTSD) are also remanded.,Service connection is not granted for gastrointestinal disorders other than GERD, GERD, or skin disorder as they are not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his PTSD and prostate cancer do not prevent him from working.

The Board has remanded several of the Veteran's claims due to new evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for hearing loss, malaria, and PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation in any of these cases.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are all granted as service-connected. The higher initial rating for coronary artery disease is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a combined total disability rating greater than 100 percent, finding that his service connected disabilities already warranted a 100% combined rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, earlier effective dates, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, generalized anxiety and PTSD, was denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further review.

For the period prior to August 29, 2013, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was rated at 30 percent. For the period from August 29, 2013, it has been rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and drug dependence due to personal assault has been reopened. Service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding effective dates earlier than March 17, 2014, for the award of TDIU and establishment of basic eligibility for DEA. The claim of entitlement to a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, hearing loss, TBI, and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing such employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service records, and requests additional evidence and examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to engage and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and degenerative joint disease L5-S1 have rendered him unemployable prior to February 22, 2011. The Board finds the evidence is in equipoise on whether he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 5, 2012 for PTSD is granted. An evaluation of 100 percent for PTSD is granted from that date. The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his PTSD alone meets the schedular criteria for a 100% rating. SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance (A&A) is granted due to the Veteran's PTSD, which causes him to require daily supervision for activities of daily living.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 17, 2017, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and nonservice-connected pension claims have been dismissed.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claim has been granted.,The following issues are remanded: service connection for a vision disability, vertigo, heart condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, depression, and PTSD, are related to his military service.