PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection was denied as the earliest communication that may reasonably be interpreted as a valid and complete claim for PTSD was received on February 23, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD, as there is a link between his reported in-service stressor and his current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether PTSD is related to service. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability from the rating issue.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating in excess of 70 percent, but needs further evidence to support this decision. The case is being sent back for an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a previous denial of service connection for PTSD. A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve, and bilateral hearing loss are all being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD due to in-service sexual assault and finds that it is related to military service, granting the petition.

The Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure and pancreatic cancer. The Board found that the service-connected PTSD and bilateral hand disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his causes of death, nor were they a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Board has revised the effective date of service connection for PTSD from August 22, 2008 to August 16, 2004 due to CUE in assigning an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, insomnia, anxiety, and hypertension due to delays in previous decisions and incomplete evidence. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is recharacterized as encompassing any diagnosed psychiatric condition, including PTSD. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and whether his symptoms are related to service. If service connection is granted for a psychiatric disability, an examination will be arranged to confirm hypertension and assess its relationship to the service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination to assess his PTSD and its impact on his employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability is now rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of decision.,PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation prior to December 22, 2016, and a total rating for PTSD since April 1, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he has requested a higher rating. The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee internal derangement. The issue is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.,The Veteran’s PTSD rating remains at 30 percent, but his case is also being remanded for an additional examination to determine if his current symptoms are due to in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that further assistance is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD and to obtain updated VA medical records. The claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50% from January 26, 2015 to December 27, 2017 and at a 70% rating since that effective date. Ratings in excess of these are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective September 16, 2014. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether his symptoms for a period prior to December 3, 2018 more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability in most areas with an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected PTSD, and a remand is required for further examination and opinion.