PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50 percent disability rating effective April 30, 2008, and a 70 percent disability evaluation effective July 6, 2009. The Board also granted entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities beginning on July 6, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from cerebral infarct and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The Board grants the claim for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective January 14, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is denied as no new and material evidence was received within one year of the May 2011 rating decision.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded to develop his employment history records and consider extraschedular TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a temporary 100 percent evaluation for PTSD hospitalization from September 14, 2011 to March 20, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating prior to June 23, 2010. The criteria for a higher rating were not met as of June 23, 2010. The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, qualifying for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied because there is no verified stressor related to his active duty service, and the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on an in-service event.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, resulting in a grant of TDIU effective August 30, 2016. The issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and residuals of a right hip and femur injury are remanded.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a link between his symptoms and an in-service stressor, and credible supporting evidence confirms the occurrence of the stressor.

The Board has denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD, but granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 30, 2006 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and May 11, 2011 for PTSD. The earlier effective date claims are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at the highest possible evaluation (100%) on and after November 26, 2014. The effective date for this rating remains to be determined.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed and that further examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The issues of service connection for hypertension and TDIU are also remanded due to their inextricably intertwined relationship with the other issues.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and evaluations for various conditions. The Veteran's TBI claim is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability related to the in-service injury. Service connection for left arm surgery scars remains denied as there are no residuals attributable to the in-service injury. Other claims have been remanded without assigning a specific disposition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a statement of the case regarding his claim for a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29, as well as his increased evaluation claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and obesity/weight gain, both of which are associated with or secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder).,The VA examiners found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for her service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of evidence considered and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's SMC for aid and attendance is granted from November 27, 2013, due to his service-connected PTSD and Parkinson's disease. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that he required regular aid and assistance since then.