PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and depression, as well as PTSD. The new evidence submitted does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in prior rating decisions, but new service department records were associated with the claims file. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at October 24, 1997.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the evidence is not sufficient to establish a current disability or link it to military service.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the abdominal disability at 10 percent, and PTSD at 50 percent. The combined rating of 70 percent does not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 6, 2004. The appeal is for a higher rating and an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before the Board could issue a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to February 4, 2013.,For the period from February 4, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, NOS, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as the earliest possible effective date is September 29, 2006. The claim for higher evaluations and TDIU based on service-connected disability were not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board finds insufficient credible evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issues are an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression not otherwise specified resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 30 percent. Service connection for PTSD was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is causally related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, hypertension, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported service stressors and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's combined disability rating does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services is warranted as the Veteran is unemployed due to non-service connected disabilities, not his service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, or right eye disorder.