PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal regarding a rating in excess of 30 percent for an anxiety disorder is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for high cholesterol, PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, scar from cesarean sections, hysterectomy, left oophorectomy, tinnitus, pelvic pain after childbirth, right shoulder dislocation, rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as allergies), bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, eczema, lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe alopecia (claimed as cicatrical scarring alopecia) for additional development to verify service records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability level, which grants him a higher rating than the previous 50 percent. The decision also includes an award of TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has been granted a 100% disability rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty. The claim for TDIU prior to August 12, 2017 was granted due to the combined rating of at least 70 percent and multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board has now reopened the claim and granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder as related to an in-service incident.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were withdrawn. The claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was received on July 13, 2016. The effective date is set to the date of receipt of the claim, which is July 13, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent prior to May 6, 2013. The claim for a higher rating in excess of 70 percent prior to March 6, 2017 is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and adenocarcinoma do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, as his other disabilities are rated less than total. The Board finds that the mild impairments due to PTSD do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for TDIU and denied an earlier effective date. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his PTSD prior to April 22, 2019 was improperly considered as entitlement to an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating. The January 1968 rating decision granting service connection and assigning a 10% rating is revised due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE). A new initial 30% rating for the left femur fracture prior to April 20, 1999 is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to December 6, 2017 and over 50 percent thereafter. The decision grants a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD but denies any higher evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, and no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate this claim.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma and PTSD are not service-connected. The squamous cell carcinoma was denied due to lack of in-service or post-service connection, while the PTSD rating remains at 50%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his service experiences and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD did not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 9, 2011.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches is granted at a 50 percent level. The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and migraine headaches due to new evidence indicating possible increased severity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent since September 9, 2016. Prior to that date, the rating was denied.