PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which reflects the severity of his symptoms as described during the June 2007 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, abdominal wound residuals, CAD, and diabetes mellitus, type II, render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA examination to determine if his diagnosed PTSD is related to service, specifically enemy attacks during his Vietnam service. The Veteran was not present at the scheduled examination and the case is now returned for another attempt.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since November 30, 2007. The disability picture associated with PTSD most closely approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed PTSD due to a sexual assault during her military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the period prior to December 10, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include bipolar disorder, is denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The Board finds that substantial compliance with the August 2013 remand orders was not achieved as it relates to this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to service exposure, and he is granted service connection. The PTSD rating remains at 50% as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The diabetes mellitus rating remains at 20%.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and anxiety disorder, was caused by his service. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is no clear and convincing evidence to the contrary and his lay testimony alone establishes the occurrence of an in-service stressor. The medical evidence of record supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a gastrointestinal disability and PTSD was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at June 15, 2010.

The effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is set at November 18, 2011. This decision upholds the earlier VA examination report that supported this increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and depressive disorder is granted due to the credible presentation of a stressor related to wartime experiences, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to September 19, 2011, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.