PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urinary incontinence was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent, as the condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings. The PTSD rating is maintained at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of IED was dismissed. The Board granted a rating of 100 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran already receiving a 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The case will be referred to VA’s Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration of TDIU for a period prior to February 9, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to April 18, 2016, resulted in occupational and social deficiencies with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as persistent anxiety, intrusive memories, sleep disturbances including nightmares, irritability, and suicidal ideation. The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as increased ratings for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease. Additional development is needed to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a history of acoustic trauma during active service and credible reports of experiencing tinnitus since then, which warrants granting service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that his symptoms align with criteria warranting such a rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD from September 1, 2010 to August 24, 2016 and from August 25, 2016 to the present was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to December 11, 2014 and at 70 percent thereafter. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD should be remanded for further evaluation and additional records are needed. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is deceased.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a personality disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD has been reopened. Service connection is granted for sinusitis but the claims for sleep apnea, cancer (right carotid body tumor), and left elbow disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the claim for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU rating. The Board found the evidence supported that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety and PTSD; and for hypertension. The VA examinations are required to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a liver disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder) due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the appellant's character of discharge and its impact on his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, GAD, PTSD and insomnia disorder. The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on having a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent plus a separate and distinct disability or disabilities ratable at 60 percent, prior to December 20, 2013, was denied. The Veteran's claim for total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service connected disabilities, beginning January 31, 2012, was granted with an effective date of January 31, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and for an effective date prior to September 19, 1996 for the grant of service connection for stable angina.