PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's T-cell leukemia is granted service connection due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, and the PTSD rating is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The issues are whether PTSD is related to service, whether other diagnosed disorders are related to service, and whether any are caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability (torticollis) was previously denied in July 1971, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia is not warranted as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records related to the Veteran's decertification from the Navy's Personnel Reliability Program (PRP), which is necessary for determining the cause of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from February 8, 2011 through June 17, 2014; 50 percent from June 18, 2014 to August 21, 2017; and 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during any of these periods.,The Veteran was granted TDIU effective July 4, 2012 up until June 18, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for keloid scars of chest was denied. An initial 100 percent disability rating is granted for PTSD, effective July 2, 2010. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed as the Veteran's PTSD alone meets the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the entire initial rating period prior to December 20, 2016. A TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted from August 4, 2016 to December 19, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depressive disorder) due to insufficient evidence. The claims will be further developed by obtaining additional information about in-service stressors and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has worsened and demonstrates symptoms warranting a higher rating, including impulse control impairment, increased ritualistic behavior, and occasional suicidal ideation. A new examination is needed to fully evaluate his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, and his initial disability rating for coronary artery disease prior to January 19, 2016 was denied. His initial disability rating for coronary artery disease since January 19, 2016 was granted at a 60 percent level. The Veteran's non-initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent. TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, hip, knee, and foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient treatment records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 70 percent.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to the appellant's withdrawal. The issues of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, TDIU, and the propriety of reducing the rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are all remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at 100 percent from December 10, 1992 to June 17, 1996. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD with major depressive disorder is moot as the Veteran has already been granted a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for PTSD, specifically because of the relevance of depositions conducted in his wrongful termination lawsuit against Kirtland Air Force Base.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma is dismissed.,Service connection for a skin disorder to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents or Camp Lejeune water is denied.,Service connection for chronic prostatitis to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents or Camp Lejeune water is denied.,Service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and service connection for a heart disorder to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and Camp Lejeune water is remanded.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents or Camp Lejeune water is remanded.,Service connection for a heart disorder to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and Camp Lejeune water is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the thoracolumbar spine disability, and scheduling another psychiatric examination using DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart disorder have been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of these claims, but does not find sufficient evidence to grant service connection for any of them.