PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the reliability of the Veteran's responses during a previous examination. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional records and will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as major depression and bipolar disorder. The Veteran was diagnosed with these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for further evaluation and additional records to be obtained. The Veteran should also undergo a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound, finding that he did not require regular aid and attendance nor was he factually housebound due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status, and a need for further development of her current and past employment history.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbar disc displacement were granted initial ratings of 50% and 20%, respectively, effective July 18, 2017 for PTSD and March 11, 2019 for lumbar disc displacement. The issues regarding higher ratings have been resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than April 30, 1999 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia. The issues are also related to a TDIU claim and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40 percent to 0 percent effective January 1, 2017 was proper. The discontinuation of TDIU effective January 1, 2017 was not proper.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 11, 2014 for service connection of pancreatitis, DM2, PTSD with secondary ETOH, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for effective date prior to February 11, 2013 for service connection of CAD has also been denied.

The Board has vacated the September 12, 2018 decision and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased staged ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's character of discharge is not a bar to the receipt of VA compensation benefits, and his claims for service connection are remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a skin rash, TBI, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been withdrawn. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted with a 100% disability rating effective September 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, TBI, headaches, a lung disability, and a back disability. The effective date of any service connection decisions remains pending.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from September 9, 2013 based on his service-connected PTSD.,Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is granted from September 17, 2015 due to additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder due to military sexual trauma, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 28, 2007. An effective date of December 28, 2007 is granted for the award of a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including difficulty adapting to stressful situations at work, marital conflict, avoidance of crowds, and loss of interest in activities. The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from April 8, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and will provide a VA examination to determine if there is a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.

The claim to reopen the previously denied OSA service connection is denied.,The claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are remanded as new evidence has not been submitted.