PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of May 31, 2012. The Board affirms the earlier effective date for TDIU to May 31, 2012 based on the evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and a need for further examination of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient recent medical evidence and a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, as there is no credible evidence of current tinnitus.,Service connection for PTSD was denied due to the lack of a valid diagnosis and the absence of supporting evidence linking the condition to in-service stressors.,Colon cancer was granted service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is also considered as secondary to his colon cancer.,The Veteran's cataracts with left eye asteroid hyalosis were found not to meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to their impact on visual acuity being within normal limits.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted in February 2012. The effective date of this service connection is denied as there are no formal or informal claims made prior to that time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right achilles tendonitis, and pilonidal cyst, do not render him unemployable. The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, and seizure disorder. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5. For hypertension and seizure disorders, the Board noted that there were no manifestations within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to October 16, 2008 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and translations.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied in November 2011 and again in September 2013. The Board remanded the case for additional development. In May 2015, a VA examination showed that the Veteran met the criteria for PTSD based on in-service stressors but also had other psychiatric disabilities unrelated to service. The earliest date of entitlement was January 5, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder has been reopened. The case is remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially to his death, and the heart disability he was seeking benefits for is determined to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants both claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD ratings, an earlier effective date for prostate cancer service connection, and an earlier effective date for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his symptoms since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, anxiety disorder NOS (PTSD spectrum/PTSD features), and depressive disorder NOS are granted. The claim for a back disorder is denied.

An effective date of November 24, 2014 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for service-connected PTSD is granted.,Entitlement to TDIU prior to February 10, 2015 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are related to his service-connected broken jaw from an assault during active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70% disabling since November 1, 2014. The Board has ordered remand for consideration of whether higher ratings are warranted for all periods at issue, including prior to July 19, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but these issues are still pending as they have been remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the relationship between his diagnosed psychiatric disorders and service. The Veteran is required to provide more specific details about the alleged incidents, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if PTSD is related to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death from accidental heroin intoxication, which the Board finds was secondary to self-medication of PTSD symptoms.