PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD was granted for accrued benefits purposes, with a 100% rating effective October 27, 2009. The appellant is the dependent parent of the Veteran and has been reimbursed for funeral expenses. She now seeks the remainder of the accrued benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU due to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a continuity of symptoms since service, and his private psychologist confirmed the presence of PTSD related to combat stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, including a 2009 depression screen and test results from VA examinations. The Veteran needs to be examined again for his psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left ankle disability, GERD, back disability, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and sleep apnea due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression and PTSD are at least as likely as not related to in-service MST, granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include schizoaffective disorder, depression, and PTSD. However, it was denied on the merits as there is no evidence linking any current acquired psychiatric disability to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and major depressive disorder, which are etiologically related to in-service incidents and combat. Service connection is also granted for left hip, left knee, and right knee disorders, as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has decided to remand both his claim for an increased rating and his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include PTSD, bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TBI, seizure disability secondary to TBI, vertigo secondary to TBI, Dercum’s disease, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, hypermobility syndrome, testicular/inguinal hernia, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, Tinea Pedis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to December 28, 2009 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded due to its implicit assertion by the Veteran.

The petition to reopen service connection for COPD is granted.,Entitlement to an earlier effective date, prior to June 17, 2011, for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for a sleep disturbance is being deferred pending receipt of requested records, but will be remanded if new evidence is received.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right bicipital tendonitis and tendon repair scars is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right knee strain with internal derangement status post arthroscopy with residual scar is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's request for a temporary total evaluation is being remanded due to unclear basis of his claim, and will be deferred pending receipt of requested records.,The Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines and an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD) were denied. The rating for migraines remains at 30 percent, while the rating for the psychiatric disorder is also at 50 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and granted this claim, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting the diagnosis of PTSD and its causation by MST.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has remanded both his increased rating claim for PTSD and a derivative TDIU claim due to unclear employment history and new evidence.