PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the October 2012 VA examination is inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has PTSD related to her in-service military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective March 2, 2011. The earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is granted from March 2, 2011. No increased rating was granted for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 8, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 21, 2011 is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on a schedular basis. The case is remanded for further action regarding an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder prior to May 24, 2016 has been dismissed as no justiciable case or controversy is before the Board at this time.

The Board has found that the Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to November 26, 2014. For the period from November 26, 2014, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can obtain and maintain such employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially to his death, and the appellant is granted DIC benefits. Accrued benefits are denied as there was no pending claim at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to have contributed substantially and significantly to his death, which was caused by liver cancer. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammertoes, calluses of the feet, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine due to a fall during VA medical treatment. The right shoulder disorder is also granted as a result of the same incident.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating from November 17, 2011 to February 13, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent effective May 31, 2005. The claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD was received on May 31, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being added to the record and updated VA treatment records being requested.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on October 5, 2013 are approved. The Board found that the services provided were not authorized in advance by VA and that there was no feasible availability of VA facilities at the time.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his service aboard the USS Harlan County, and the Board finds that he has a current disability as diagnosed by VA. The stressor reported by the Veteran was found credible and consistent with his military service, leading to the conclusion that his PTSD is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his military experiences and fear of hostile activity.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted with a 50% rating effective April 28, 2011. Service connection for a skin disability and an acquired psychiatric disability were also granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and VA examinations to assess the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and right eye corneal ulcer with corneal scarring.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to military sexual trauma (MST), was denied as there is insufficient credible supporting evidence of a diagnosed condition. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have any other service-connected disabilities and therefore cannot meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and PTSD, as well as his claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), were denied by the Board. The denial is based on lack of evidence supporting the underlying claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, PTSD, and depressive disorder, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his in-service experiences.