PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and the acquired psychiatric disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination. The effective date of service connection for headaches prior to August 31, 2004 will be addressed in a Statement of the Case.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was not granted on the merits due to lack of verified in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for schizoid personality and/or schizophrenic reaction-paranoid, finding that new evidence was not material. The March 1997 rating decision is final.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent from June 18, 2010 to November 15, 2011 and then increased to a maximum of 30 percent effective November 16, 2011. The Board found the symptoms did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board found that new evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim for service connection, but ultimately denied both the reopening and merits of his claims due to lack of credible stressor support and no current diagnoses related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the provision of his complete VA treatment records from May 2009 to present.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.,New evidence received since the August 2007 decision supports reopening claims for lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.,New evidence received since the August 2007 decision supports reopening claims for lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective prior to August 8, 2011. He also meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board has granted an effective date of June 25, 2008 for this rating.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for the service-connected PTSD and found that the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by disturbances of motivation and mood, depression, flashbacks and nightmares, irritability, isolation, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships. The disability approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the appellant's in-service sexual assault is a credible stressor and resulting in her current diagnosis of PTSD. The decision also notes that major depressive disorder was diagnosed but not separately evaluated as it would result in no additional compensation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while impairing his ability to work, do not render him unemployable as a whole. The combined rating of 70% does not meet the threshold requirement for TDIU under section 4.16(a).

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 24, 2008. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.