PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent prior to November 9, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise and grants a 30 percent rating for PTSD prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination and additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification of his claims, including the diagnosis and etiology of his psychiatric conditions, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 21, 2012. From March 21, 2012, the rating increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 31, 2010 and January 19, 2011 were denied as the earliest possible effective dates are determined by law.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, hearing loss, and polysubstance dependence/mood disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for increased ratings of PTSD and TDIU. The claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 18, 2010 remains before the Board.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service.,There is no evidence of a current right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to a confirmed in-service stressor, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The kidney disorder and low back disability issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for a psychiatric disorder of PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric and psychological examination to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from a chronic, clinically-identifiable psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder) and whether any such disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of initial increased ratings for PTSD and a left knee disability are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 31, 2008 is being remanded due to insufficient information in the claims file to determine if his service-connected PTSD rendered him unemployable.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, or any current TMJ syndrome which could be attributable to active service.

The Veteran has been unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD since he filed his claim on November 29, 2004. The Board grants TDIU beginning from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to his PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU rating for PTSD prior to February 3, 2004. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.