PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 5, 2010, for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board finds that there is no basis for the assignment of such an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that it more closely approximates a 50 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, effective from August 17, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a respiratory disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed respiratory condition and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and any relevant SSA records. An examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran has other psychiatric disorders that may be related to his service.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 1, 2009. TDIU was granted effective from May 18, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the diagnosis of PTSD and a need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 100 percent effective from March 3, 2014. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim is also referred to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Services for consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for narcolepsy, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder effective from May 7, 1998. The claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted after the prior denial in March 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to September 15, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not related to his military service. The Veteran's skin disorder is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his PTSD, including a new VA examination and records from his ongoing VA mental health treatment. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, alcohol abuse, and cirrhosis of the liver. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating, but his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were both rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any other acquired psychiatric disorders present during his period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied his claim. For the right knee disability, additional development is needed to determine if the preexisting condition was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish exposure to herbicides. The claims for PTSD, bilateral eye disability, GSW/SGW residuals, scars of the face and right armpit, and TBI were all denied as there was no credible evidence linking any current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim for PTSD with major depression was not granted as the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in 2013.