PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, are related to service. The Board is granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD. The Bipolar Disorder claim remains pending as there was insufficient evidence provided by the examiner.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to November 25, 2009. The Veteran's mental health condition was diagnosed as schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD is denied as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for spermatocele is denied as there is no evidence of urinary or renal symptoms resulting from this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent disability rating for his left shoulder disability since the date of claim. The initial ratings are 10 percent prior to April 30, 2012, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability and acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA examination results and medical records. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to December 9, 2014 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent due to symptoms that caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since September 26, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease. The denial is upheld as there was no new evidence presented that would reopen the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was granted. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the June 1980 rating decision denying stomach condition service connection is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased disability ratings for PTSD, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective February 19, 2009. The Board found that the evidence established he was totally disabled due to service-connected disabilities as of August 31, 2007, but not within one year prior.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's claimed stressors during service. The Veteran will need to provide additional details and VA will attempt to verify these events.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression is granted as his current psychiatric diagnosis aligns with the in-service stressors he reported, and there is no clear evidence against this conclusion.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for postoperative ulcers has been withdrawn. The case is remanded to obtain treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to assess his PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.