PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including inquiry into the status of her application for early retirement due to disability and determination of the extent of her occupational impairment. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and adjudication of service connection and increased rating claims. The TDIU rating issue will be deferred until those claims are resolved.

The Veteran's PTSD did not more nearly approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 6, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's end stage liver disease, which was a principal cause of his death, is service connected as it developed due to alcohol use disorder secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination regarding his National Guard service.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from August 20, 2008 to March 31, 2011. From April 1, 2011 to December 11, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD met the criteria for a 50% evaluation. Since December 12, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied, and his anxiety and depressive disorder NOS were granted. His diabetes mellitus rating remains at 20%.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating prior to April 12, 2012. From that point forward, the symptoms are more indicative of a 70 percent rating.

The Board found that there was no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and thus, service connection for PTSD could not be established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, take care of hygiene needs, prepare meals, manage medications, and attend to personal needs. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus type II are not service-connected, but coronary artery disease is presumed to have been incurred during his military service.,PTSD has resulted in current disability that warrants a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating. The appeal regarding sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered based on any new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for a back disability has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the claim as it pertains to this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including a depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships for the initial period at issue prior to November 17, 2010.,Since January 1, 2011, his PTSD caused occupational and social impairment but not total, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service combat experiences and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to his Vietnam-era exposure. Service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are also granted as these conditions are related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his symptoms are related to service.,Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression. The Board found that the Veteran's in-service stressors were sufficient to cause such symptoms.