PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 30, 2005. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD, was incurred in service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his psychiatric disability and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD. Additionally, a new opinion will be sought regarding whether his hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and mood disorder, as well as bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's hypertension and PTSD have been evaluated, but the service connection for both conditions has not been established. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective February 27, 2012. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The earliest possible effective date is August 18, 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, and dental condition was withdrawn. The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 3, 2013, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran does not have a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, providing the Veteran with another opportunity to present information and/or evidence pertinent to his TDIU claim, and obtaining a medical opinion regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability during the period from March 30, 2009 to February 24, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeals for entitlement to an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and entitlement to service connection for residuals of a tumor of the left hand. The appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary in order to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death. The appellant must provide information about medical providers who treated her husband prior to his death, and VA will attempt to obtain these records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and an evaluation of whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disability.