PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum to the VA examination report. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 31, 2014, based on the severity of his symptoms and impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records and provide adequate notice under 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e).

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination or addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed polysubstance dependence is due to or a result of his service-connected low back and/or knee disabilities.

The Board has directed that the Veteran undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD, are related to service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent since September 29, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess his employability status due to service-connected disabilities, and for clarification on whether he desires a hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 30 percent disabling since March 1, 2010. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 100 percent rating are met due to total occupational and social impairment caused by PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the award of service connection for PTSD and mood disorder has been remanded due to the need to address a potential CUE in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and CAD, as well as his claim for a TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and persists, granting service connection for this disability. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is also granted as it is reasonably shown to have begun in service. However, the hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if her current psychiatric disorders are related to service, including military sexual trauma and other stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to June 25, 2007. Since then, the rating has been increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected, with the claim being decided on the merits of his in-service stressors and their relation to his current condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms were mild or transient, affecting work efficiency only during periods of significant stress.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and found that the appellant's anxiety disorder is related to her in-service assault. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD was not addressed as it encompasses both PTSD and anxiety.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD as per DSM-IV, and thus service connection is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability picture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is not service-connected as it was pre-existing and did not worsen during service.