PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim for Hepatitis C was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the PTSD claim resulted in a 70% disability rating effective October 19, 2011.

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is found to be related to her military sexual assault, and service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD. However, due to conflicting evidence and lack of verification of stressors, the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD and for TDIU due to his PTSD. The claims are being remanded because updated VA treatment records need to be associated with the file, and a new examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's calluses and low back disorder were not related to service, and the evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology.,There is no credible supporting evidence that the Veteran experienced an in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, surgical scars of the low back, right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative disc and joint disease of the low back, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), and PTSD. The remand includes obtaining updated VA treatment records, conducting new examinations to determine the nature and cause of the Veteran's disabilities, and providing a new rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's claims for eardrum damage, bilateral knee condition, stomach ulcers, and hemorrhoids have all been denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to military sexual trauma was denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of such disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal. The Board finds that his symptoms most closely approximate those warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for the Board to make a decision. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since May 4, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating as they were only occasional and controlled by medication.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD is denied, and his claim of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, thus the claim for a rating above 70 percent is denied. The issue of TDIU has been remanded due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's self-employment income.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection claims for a low back condition, hysterectomy, migraine headaches, PTSD, and hypertension remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran must be provided with additional development related to his claims, including verification of non-combat stressors and a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to provide requested information and complete a VA Form 9 within one year of being asked.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (characterized as PTSD) because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded for further action on the initial rating for psychiatric disorder and service connection for sleep apnea.