PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment since September 6, 2006. The Board granted an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint disease with annular tear of the lumbar spine and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for PTSD before the Board could make a decision.

Your PTSD rating is being remanded for further evaluation, and your TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability from the PTSD claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of death and a need for additional records from the Veteran's care providers.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted due to his ability to maintain employment and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and for further action on the earlier effective date claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for shingles, stomach condition (claimed as nervous stomach), and kidney condition (claimed as kidney failure) due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issue of a higher rating for PTSD was not addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 8, 2009. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as his combined rating was less than 70% at that time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, and sleep apnea due to conflicting evaluations of his mental health. A new VA examination is required to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service and whether sleep apnea is secondary to a service-connected condition.

The claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder was previously denied in an unappealed June 2007 rating decision. The Veteran's testimony provided additional information that may enable JSRRC to corroborate the stressors, thus reopening the claim. However, further development is needed due to the loss of service records.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 and that MDD was not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and a liver condition due to potential exposure during service, which could impact the decision on PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of examination addressing whether the Veteran's hand condition impacts his employment in sales. The case is now pending for further evaluation.

The Board has found that VA did not substantially comply with the June 2017 remand instructions due to the Veteran's missed VA examination appointments. The case is being remanded for a new VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran’s hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Tension Headaches, Essential Tremor, Dermographia) have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in him being unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the RO is required to refer his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded in a September 2016 rating decision which granted an increased rating for PTSD, granted service connection for headaches, and granted TDIU. The Veteran is required to wait 30 days before responding to the VA Form 9 provided by his attorney, after which he must be given a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The reduction in the rating for PTSD, alcohol use disorder (also claimed as sleep issues and depression) from 70 percent disabling to 50 percent disabling was not proper. The Veteran's previous 70 percent rating is restored.