PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, arousal symptoms, and depression. The evaluation prior to June 13, 2008, did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression and remanded the case to obtain additional evidence, including a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders are also being considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to reassess the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and the need to verify in-service stressors. The case will be returned to the Board for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and gastrointestinal disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 1, 2009, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The earliest effective date is set at May 1, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 25, 2010 and 70 percent prior to that date. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms such as hypervigilance, social isolation, intrusive memories, daily feelings of depression and anxiety, and disturbances in mood and motivation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The issues of increased evaluations for his lumbar spine condition, left leg nerve disability, and PTSD are also being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective February 16, 2010. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU was granted, with the effective date set at May 14, 2010. The Veteran had been service connected for various conditions including PTSD and multiple musculoskeletal issues since April 25, 2008.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or depression. The Veteran's claims are now on the merits.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for sleep apnea or insomnia, secondary to his service-connected PTSD, was denied. However, the Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 50 percent effective May 9, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD remains in appellate status due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death, ascending aortic dissection, is either related to his service-connected PTSD or atherosclerosis due to herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now receiving a 50 percent disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. He also received separate 10 percent ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral dysfunction. The Board has found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to a verified in-service stressor, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.