PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and preclude gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for a neck disability, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain inpatient treatment records from the Kadena Air Force Base Hospital and to schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current credible diagnosis of PTSD and finds insufficient evidence to establish a link between any psychiatric disorder and service or service-connected disabilities. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD, and for further development related to his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment, with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance. The Board concludes that the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating are met.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is manifested by symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, estrangement and detachment from others, suspiciousness, irritability or outbursts of anger, exaggerated startled response, difficulty concentrating, and hypervigilance. For the entire appeal period, the criteria for an initial 70 percent rating are met.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective November 17, 2010. The VA Board has determined that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a personal hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 22, 2006. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since July 1, 2004, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a blood disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or a link to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran after a supplemental statement of the case was issued.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not establish a verified stressor related to his military service and the pre-existing conditions are not shown to be aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination, and all outstanding records will be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and a psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, has been denied as there is no probative evidence of TBI or residual thereof in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as determined by the RO. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary for further examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.