PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for OSA is being remanded as there may be a link between his military service and undiagnosed illness. Additional evidence is needed, including records from 2010 when he was referred for evaluation of sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claims for kidney stones and diabetes are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus is being remanded as there may be a link between his military service and aggravation of his already elevated blood sugar levels. Additional evidence is needed, including records from 2010 when he was referred for evaluation of sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claims for knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran asserts that her current mental health symptoms are related to her service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional development, including obtaining employment records from the Veteran's employer and psychiatric treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and updated treatment records, as well as further clarification on the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship to service. The claim for PTSD will be remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board has granted a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD, effective June 27, 2006. The decision is based on the Veteran's total occupational and social impairment due to his PTSD symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been denied. The Board has reopened the claim due to new evidence, but it remains denied as there is no evidence that his hypertension is proximately due to or caused by his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for PTSD is remanded due to lack of specific details regarding an alleged sexual assault and discriminatory treatment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on service connection claims, including a claim for cause of death. No other issues have been resolved.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection of ingrown toenails was denied. A total disability rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse, marijuana use disorder, and gambling disorder was granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD, ischemic heart disease, Peyronie's disease, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease is being remanded as it may be related to herbicide agent exposure during his service aboard the USS America. Additional evidence will be needed to determine if this exposure can be presumed based on his service record.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for Peyronie's disease is also being remanded due to potential herbicide agent exposure during his service aboard the USS America. Additional evidence will be needed to determine if this exposure can be presumed based on his service record.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded as it may be related to an in-service injury. An examination will be required to assess whether any current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by the in-service injury.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as there is no verified stressor related to service.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,The Veteran's hyperlipidemia (claimed as cholesterol) claim is denied as it does not constitute a disability for VA compensation benefits.,The Veteran's tinnitus rating claim is remanded as the current schedular maximum rating has already been assigned.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% throughout the appeal period. The Board has now granted a total disability evaluation of 70% for PTSD, finding that it causes total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his symptoms are manageable and he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to August 6, 2015, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and for TDIU due to the inadequate examination reports in the prior decision. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorder, has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his anxiety disorder began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the nature of his acquired psychiatric condition. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information about private treatment records, and VA will attempt to verify service dates and stressor claims.