PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability of issues with his PTSD rating appeal. Development on the PTSD issue will impact the TDIU decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are rated at a 70 percent rating, effective June 29, 2009. The symptoms include suicidal ideation, anger issues, difficulty in establishing and maintaining work and social relationships, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% evaluation for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show a worsening of her disability in the year prior to December 9, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion from a psychiatrist regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or its treatment caused his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the diagnosis and link to in-service stressors established through medical evidence and the Veteran's combat experience.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected low back arthritis and major depressive disorder. The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a heart disability, and breast cancer due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection effective from November 21, 2008. His insomnia and OSA were denied, and his acid reflux condition received an increased rating to 30% prior to December 6, 2014, and to 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective March 25, 2011. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from April 7, 2014, through April 11, 2014, are denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total evaluation of PTSD prior to March 4, 2009 was denied. The decision found no clear and unmistakable error in the assignment of the effective date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of August 31, 2010 due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 6, 2014 for PTSD is dismissed as the RO granted a higher effective date of June 20, 2013.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 15, 2014 for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).,However, the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 24, 2018 for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is denied.

A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted prior to February 11, 2019.,A TDIU is granted prior to February 11, 2019. From February 11, 2019, a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities other than the Veteran’s PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions pre-existed service and were aggravated by service. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to May 8, 2015, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms like suicidal ideation.