PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD was found to meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation prior to June 13, 2001, based on his symptoms and their impact on employment.

The Board denied service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder and diverticulitis. The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of his psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to service, as well as to determine if his current diverticulitis is related to his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back pain, did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 20, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD based on in-service stressors and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and a respiratory disability. The decision is unclear regarding whether new evidence was received to reopen the hypertension claim.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim to reopen service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder due to a lack of morning reports and an investigated report from the Veteran's unit. Further development is required, including obtaining records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the Department of the Army.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from March 28, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including sleep impairment with nightmares, depression, irritability, and isolation. The current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has found that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claim on appeal can be decided. This includes obtaining updated mental health treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which likely preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to April 21, 2008, due to symptoms such as suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from September 1, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU rating based on the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating since February 1, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to his period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.