PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained on remand are inadequate and requires additional opinions to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and adjustment disorder) and sleep disorders (including OSA and insomnia).

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and development of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for additional records, including private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD and gastritis are denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct or presumptive service connection. However, his PTSD claim is granted based on personal assaults / a pattern of harassment during active duty.,PTSD service connection is granted due to in-service personal assaults / a pattern of harassment. Major depressive disorder with associated anxiety, insomnia, and memory loss are also granted as they can be linked to the Veteran's period of active service.,The Veteran's bowel disturbance with abdominal distress (an intestinal condition) qualifies as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. � 3.317 due to his Persian Gulf service. His type II diabetes mellitus is also granted as a qualifying chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness.,Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with angina (chest pain) and hypertension are both granted secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with angina (chest pain).,PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and polysubstance abuse disorders are all granted as secondary to his now service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted a 20 percent rating based on orthopedic manifestations. His tension headaches have been granted the maximum 50 percent rating from August 26, 2013.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding total occupational and social impairment due to severe symptoms including paranoia, delusions, memory lapses, substance abuse, and difficulty sleeping.

The Veteran's PTSD to include unspecified alcohol-related disorder is rated at 70 percent from March 15, 2018, through April 8, 2019. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD prior to December 22, 2016 and from December 22, 2016 to June 13, 2019 have been denied. The effective date for service connection remains May 1, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective February 27, 2014. A TDIU due to service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's dental disorder claim is denied as he does not have a current condition for which compensation may be awarded. The hepatitis C and PTSD claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent and his claim for increased rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to occasional disturbance of motivation and mood.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder and Neurocognitive Disorders, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service head injury.

The Board has granted service connection for ED as secondary to PTSD and also granted special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the creative organ.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. Bilateral hearing loss and OSA are denied.

The reduction of the PTSD rating from 100% to 50% is granted, effective February 1, 2016. The Veteran's sleep apnea and right knee strain are rated as they were before. TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are also granted.

The March 16, 2015 rating decision was not revised due to clear and unmistakable error. The claim for service connection of GAD and MDD with other unspecified personality disorder is reopened. PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a prostate condition, PTSD disability rating, TDIU prior to March 30, 2017, and SMC based on aid and attendance are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (diabetic neuropathy, diabetes, and PTSD) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined impact of these conditions.