PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection. The other issues were dismissed as they are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and whether he is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal for a reduction in his ischemic heart disease rating from 30% to 10% was upheld. For the period beginning January 1, 2015, he is not entitled to an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities for pension purposes prior to October 25, 2017 included PTSD with major depression, knee arthralgia, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, hypertension, inguinal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran was not found to meet the schedular criteria for a permanent and total disability rating prior to October 25, 2017. As such, he is not entitled to nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to in-service personal assault. Service connection was also granted for hepatitis C, with a determination that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened and granted effective from September 10, 1999. The earlier date of claim is considered the effective date as it meets the criteria for reopening a previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA mental health examination to clarify the Veteran's current psychiatric disability and its relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and his erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable rating. The Board has granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that VA first received the claim on April 9, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran has occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to his PTSD symptoms.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records from the Veteran's service period and subsequent years, as these records may be relevant to determining an appropriate effective date for his PTSD award.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant's current mental health conditions are related to his military service or any other factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was granted effective from December 22, 1997. Service connection for right and left eye disabilities as well as a low back disability have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 13, 2016.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 or accrued benefits. The appellant is also ineligible for death pension as of September 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from October 7, 2013 to January 4, 2017, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a DRO hearing due to the failure of the RO to provide the requested hearing.