PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his left-thigh hematoma was denied, and the appeal is remanded.,Service connection for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the current evidence is insufficient to adjudicate the appellant's claim for service connection due to a lack of verification of her periods of active duty, ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety, is granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD is denied. The rating for restrictive lung disease remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome but denied service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded for further examination and/or medical opinion regarding the Veteran's PTSD claim.

The Board has found that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is not warranted, and has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is reopened. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric or mental disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gynecological disorder has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also established for PTSD, but the appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran. Vision problems including astigmatism are not diseases or injuries for which service connection can be granted. The Veteran's decreased sense of smell (hyposmia) is presumed to have resulted from exposure to jet fuel fumes during service.,The Veteran has been granted a 30 percent disability rating for migraine headaches effective May 14, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as due to MST, finding that there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, primarily due to anxiety and chronic sleep impairment. The Board found that a rating higher than 30 percent was not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating from September 20, 2010 to February 20, 2015 was denied as his migraines did not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months.,A 50 percent rating was granted for migraine headaches from February 20, 2015. The Veteran's very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraine headache pain were productive of severe economic inadaptability.

Your appeal for a higher rating for posttraumatic stress disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are at least in equipoise as to whether they result in loss of use of both feet and require aid and attendance due to PTSD alone, thus meeting the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (o) and (r)(1).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a left ankle condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The current evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD, and the left ankle issue requires further consideration based on the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent. Service connection for major depressive disorder separate from the service-connected anxiety disorder is also granted. The claim for PTSD is denied. The effective dates for both psychiatric disorders are not granted as requested.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is denied as the December 2016 rating decision denying his claim was final and no new or material evidence was received within a year of that decision.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II, prior to March 1, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, as his claim was received on May 3, 2018 and he did not file a complete intent to file form prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since he last worked fulltime in May 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and back disorder have all been denied service connection. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 1, 2017 has also been denied.