PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an updated VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for his back condition and acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence did not establish a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor or chronic disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for new examinations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report and need for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 30 percent disabling prior to August 14, 2012. The appeal for restoration of a 70 percent rating is granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because no timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was filed within one year from the October 2009 rating decision that granted service connection for PTSD effective September 13, 2006. The issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted, but the rating is still at 70 percent. The Board has ordered additional development of his VA treatment records and a new examination to evaluate the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and tinea cruris and pedis were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, mild tympanisclerosis of the left tympanic membrane, and residuals of a right eyelid shrapnel wound remains denied.,The Veteran has raised claims for TDIU which are inextricably intertwined with his service connection and increased rating claims.

The Veteran's residuals of a right knee injury, status post ACL reconstruction surgery, are related to his service and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have TBI residuals related to service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction as secondary to a psychiatric disorder are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD was denied as there was no pending claim prior to May 18, 2011, and no evidence of increased disability within the one-year period before that date.

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

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 30, 2009.,The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly the neurological impairment affecting his lower extremities, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD and depression have been granted service connection, with a 50% disability rating effective June 27, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted due to the evidence being at least in equipoise as to whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to December 27, 2011 and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board found that the symptoms have not met criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bronchitis was granted, and he received a TDIU effective from November 1, 2008. Attorney fees are awarded for the increased rating of bronchitis but not for the TDIU.