PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastritis is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current disability related to a diagnosis of PTSD. The COPD claim is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its relation to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA records review or physical examination to determine if he qualifies for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding a verified in-service stressor and for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with a 70% evaluation, effective May 9, 1989. The decision is based on new evidence submitted in February 2014 that included military personnel records showing an in-service assault and subsequent behavioral problems.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied, and his request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating to 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 30 percent effective May 24, 2018. The Veteran also receives a TDIU based on his PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of PTSD, and the claim is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder due to new evidence presented in his appeal. The claims will be reviewed with a different examiner who can provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to military service, including any military sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling an examination to determine the etiology of sleep apnea, and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of PTSD.

The Veteran did not have a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling at the time of his death, so he is not eligible for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral foot disabilities, hepatitis A/B, and a psychiatric disorder. The claim for hepatitis A/B was reopened but the service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's entitlement to a rating of 60 percent for the residuals of prostate cancer is granted, effective July 1, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from January 26, 2012 to March 14, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since May 19, 2008. Effective from May 19, 2008 to August 2, 2017, an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for PTSD prior to March 4, 2015 is denied. From March 4, 2015 through the present, a higher rating of more than 50 percent is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, migraine headaches, and pelvic inflammatory disease are denied. The effective dates for these grants of service connection are September 29, 2011, October 4, 2011, respectively. A compensable rating is not granted for the Veteran's pelvic inflammatory disease. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to August 17, 2013, is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for seizures has been reopened, and the case is remanded to develop evidence related to his claimed stressor incident. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is also remanded.