PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral hand disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of shell fragment wound, right foot and service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease and acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at March 31, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing before RO personnel at the Manchester VA Regional Office and further development of the claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from July 31, 2006, and continuing thereafter uninterrupted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service connected due to an in-service personal assault, and there is credible supporting evidence of this stressor.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD. The Board is dismissing the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and psychiatric examination reports. The issue of a TDIU is also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS is dismissed.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim for service connection for PTSD can be decided. This includes verifying the Veteran's claimed stressor and foreign service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination of his PTSD and consideration of the TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if necessary.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's alcohol dependence is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and therefore service connection for alcohol dependence on a secondary basis is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to his service-connected residuals of multiple fragment wounds to the abdomen and PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a video conference hearing and other development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 8, 1988, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder has been granted. The issue of a higher rating for PTSD prior to June 1, 2004 is pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional VA medical evidence being added to the claims file, and the Veteran's representative requested a review of this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to reconcile inconsistencies in previous evaluations and treatment records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS does not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background for the period beginning July 11, 2012.