PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective January 4, 2014. The claim for TDIU was denied as the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria prior to December 4, 1995.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum to a VA examination and addressing issues related to hypertension, PTSD evaluation prior to July 3, 2013, and TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a spinal disorder, radiculopathy, heart condition, or Graves' disease during the appellant's period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and did not relate these conditions to his meningitis. The Board determined that the current diagnoses were due to other causes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of a stressor event and an examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to a signed statement expressing his desire to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent. The issue of service connection for malaria has also been resolved in his favor.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim. The case is remanded to determine if any right hip disorder is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the July 24, 1981 motor vehicle accident was not in the line of duty due to the Appellant's willful misconduct. Therefore, service connection for neck disability, back disability, right knee disability, and PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records, ensure compliance with the duty to assist, and provide an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied as he did not have a diagnosed depressive disorder. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and personnel records, as well as an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with secondary polysubstance abuse is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining recent treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but total occupational and social impairment is not shown. The claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the remaining issues of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a left shoulder disorder. The Veteran is entitled to a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding these denied claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of instability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent initial rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was denied, but his service connection claim for MDD was granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder.