PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia are found to be etiologically related to service, including an in-service sexual assault. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in by social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. As a result, the criteria for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD have not been met.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD, but has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship between his claimed psychiatric disability and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including depression and PTSD, are not etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of her delimiting date for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35, finding that she was not prevented from initiating or completing a chosen program of education due to her own or her children's disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been consistently rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2006, based on symptoms including irritability and difficulty adapting to stressful situations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and PTSD have been granted. The claim to reopen a low back disability has also been reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 50 percent disability rating effective January 28, 2010.

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

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at various levels of severity from March 19, 2009 to December 8, 2009. The initial evaluations were granted but not in excess of the assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this matter.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma during his active duty service, and the Board finds that this disability is related to his active duty service. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. A psychiatric examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total (100 percent) rating for PTSD is denied as the November 1994 Board decision, which awarded this effective date, is final.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no formal or informal claim filed prior to March 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The earliest dates assignable for these conditions are based on the dates of receipt of his initial claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from October 20, 2002 due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date was determined based on the earliest date of receipt of a claim for service connection.