PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board at his current address.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD must fail as a matter of law, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, with the Board finding that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating from October 1, 2007 to May 25, 2011. On and after May 25, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms were found to warrant a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide a new VA examination for his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be considered as part of the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA mental health records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis conforms with DSM-IV criteria and whether his claimed stressors are adequate to support a PTSD diagnosis. The examiner is also asked to provide an opinion on whether his symptoms are more, less, or equally likely related to the claimed stressor(s).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 26, 2008, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was granted. The Board found that the evidence did not show worsening between July 14, 2008 and September 26, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge. The issue on appeal is service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is related to sexual assaults in service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not caused by military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and his PTSD is rated at the maximum 70 percent rating.

The Board denied both claims, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in PTSD symptomatology or inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of December 16, 2003.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 70 percent, which is in excess of the initial 30 percent assigned. The appeal was successful.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability evaluations for PTSD was denied, and the claim for a TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further proceedings, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional evidence. The claims of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcoholism and insomnia caused occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to September 30, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD and GAD has been rated at 50 percent since October 31, 2006. The Board finds that a higher initial rating of 70 percent is warranted for this disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gynecological disability, bilateral knee disability, and psychiatric disorder including PTSD due to lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.