PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as private psychiatric and substance abuse treatment records. The Veteran is scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if she has an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran meets the criteria for a schedular TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities, but his case is remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting an employment impact assessment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule her for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of her current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 1, 2009. The scars have been rated at 30 percent effective November 10, 2009.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The RO granted the claim with a February 3, 2006 effective date based on his unemployability at that time. However, the Board is remanding the case to consider whether the TDIU should have been granted prior to February 3, 2006.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he attributes to his military service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to the regulatory changes regarding PTSD and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's current MDD and depression did not manifest in service, nor is it otherwise related to his service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and its impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a total rating for PTSD is dismissed as there are no new facts or evidence to support the claim, and the previous decisions remain final.

The Veteran's appeal includes two issues: one regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, and the other regarding a higher initial evaluation for PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in both cases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new opinion from the VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD symptoms or medication are causally related to his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Veteran was unable to maintain employment due to his PTSD.,As of June 2012, the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The decision grants a higher rating than what was previously assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board denied the claims for an increased disability rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to April 14, 2009. The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 30 percent disabling prior to August 28, 2007, and 50 percent thereafter.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, resulting from service. The Veteran's claimed stressors have not been corroborated and there is no credible supporting evidence to verify the occurrence of these events.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD, TDIU due to PTSD, service connection for a right shoulder disability, and temporary total evaluation based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence for the right shoulder were all denied. The Board found that there was no credible evidence of a specific right shoulder injury in-service and no nexus to the post-service right shoulder disability since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, did not have their clinical onset in service and are not otherwise related to active duty. Psychosis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.