PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and granted. Service connection is established for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder. The rating for GERD remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for further action on issues related to effective dates and disability ratings for PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to November 12, 2013 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The disability rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, was granted in a November 2013 rating decision. As the issue has been resolved, it is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) and assigned a 30 percent disability evaluation, effective the date of initial grant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD with depression is service-connected, as it was caused by a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressed and anxious mood, is service-connected as it was incurred during his military service due to combat-related stressors.

The Veteran's overall combined disability rating is 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's PTSD and his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to November 30, 2010.,Effective December 31, 2009, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. The current evidence does not support an increase in disability beyond this level.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to ensure that it may be properly adjudicated, including obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed schizophrenia and any other psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent from August 28, 2007 to January 15, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due solely to the effects of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a neck disability. The Board finds that TDIU is granted for the period before May 10, 2010.