PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is found to have originated in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in a December 2018 rating decision, effective January 25, 2018. The appeal is dismissed as the full benefit sought has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise a May 2013 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD at the time, and the RO did not err in relying on other Veterans' records. The Veteran submitted new evidence from a private psychologist diagnosing PTSD, but this evidence was not before the RO when the decision was made.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Appellant seeks recognition as his helpless child on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18. The Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.,Service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army is not qualifying service for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The Veteran did not have any claims pending at the time of his death, nor did he file a claim for accrued benefits within one year of his death. Therefore, entitlement to these benefits is denied.,The Veteran's only service-connected disabilities were bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. There is no evidence that these conditions caused or contributed substantially to his death from cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to sepsis secondary to community acquired pneumonia.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of PTSD, COPD, and hypertension are dismissed. The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for male reproductive disorder (erectile dysfunction and low testosterone) due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination and development. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, bone cancer, and DIC benefits based on the cause of the Veteran's death. The DIC claim is being deferred as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), dermatophytosis of the left foot, and dermatophytosis of the right foot.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but he contends that his condition has worsened. The Board finds it necessary to remand the case for updated medical treatment records and a new examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection for nightmares and increased disability ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to February 19, 2014 are denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 1, 2018, but his disability rating higher than 30 percent thereafter remains denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU need further evaluation due to a lack of recent VA psychiatric examination records and incomplete treatment information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and mood disorder. The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran contends he experienced combat stressors in Vietnam and now suffers from PTSD.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected pancreatic cancer.,Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and for pancreatic cancer is granted on a direct basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), finding that his current diagnosis is causally related to active duty service.

The Veteran's 100% rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is restored. His appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 30% for the same condition is dismissed as moot due to the restoration of the rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated depression was rated at 50 percent prior to November 27, 2017 and denied for a higher rating. Since then, the claim has been denied again for a higher rating.