PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder secondary to his service-connected PTSD is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including as a result of herbicide exposure at Camp Lejeune and/or excessive heat and sun during service, is being remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a sleep disorder is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a new VA psychiatric examination to evaluate his PTSD disability.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to have developed as a result of active service, and the Board finds that the evidence for and against the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is at least in equipoise. Therefore, reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran and entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from January 26, 2013. His bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensably disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor and head injury were not verified, and there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to service.,The Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and TBI residuals are denied as there is insufficient evidence to support their connection to service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that it warranted a higher rating. The RO assigned a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD from November 22, 2006 to November 4, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA outpatient treatment records and for further development of the Veteran's PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and for further examination of his psychiatric condition.

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

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.,A higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. However, a rating higher than 70 percent either before or after March 12, 2013 is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including blurred vision, night sweats, traumatic brain injury, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability (PTSD, major depression and anxiety), residuals of frostbite of the ears, and low back disorder. The decision is based on a finding that there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination to assess his PTSD. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than the already granted anxiety disorder NOS with PTSD traits is denied. The claim for secondary service connection for hepatitis C to include as secondary to service-connected anxiety disorder NOS with PTSD traits is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA mental disorders examination to clarify diagnoses and determine whether any current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 17, 2007. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the December 2003 rating decision is not new and material to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, as it does not show a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to his request.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.