PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bursitis, a respiratory disorder (claimed as breathing difficulty), and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II has also been remanded due to the need for additional factual development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, but denied service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). The decision in favor of the Veteran's claim for schizophrenia is based on her current diagnosis and evidence showing symptoms during service. For PTSD, there was no competent evidence supporting a diagnosis related to MST.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be inextricably intertwined with other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and lumbar spine disorders. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule VA examinations for further evaluation of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for TDIU based on the schedular rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent from November 17, 2012 to October 2, 2014. An earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to October 2, 2014 is denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sciatica of the lower left extremity and PTSD due to additional development needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Veteran has been rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities since October 18, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of definitive evidence linking his current conditions to service. The case will be reviewed with a new examination using DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating prior to August 22, 2017, a rating in excess of 30 percent from August 22, 2017, to November 16, 2017, and a rating in excess of 50 percent from November 17, 2017, for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran was incarcerated during service but was released in 2018. The VA needs to locate him and schedule a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for anxiety (also claimed as sleep disorder), PTSD, and insomnia are remanded due to the need for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any present acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, which reflects the level of impairment caused by his symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and suicidal ideation. The rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a total disability evaluation, effective from the date of claim (March 22, 2007).,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim before March 22, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran has these conditions as a result of his military service in Iraq, leading to a grant of service connection.