PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depression and PTSD, as new evidence received since the last final denial supports this claim. The TDIU issue is also addressed in the remand portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed stressors and obtain a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other service-connected psychiatric disorder, and his mood disorder is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination with an industrial/occupational specialist to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered following this development.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, but found that the newly discovered and corrected military records from the U.S. Army Board for the Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) established a valid claim for the Air Medal and Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a depressive disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and panic disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective January 11, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD and granted service connection.,Service connection was not granted for other psychiatric disorders, including depression and dysthymia.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for PTSD and right arm and shoulder disabilities, as well as questions regarding employability and alcohol use.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for TDIU prior to December 23, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor and his acquired psychiatric disorders are not directly related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD warranted a 50 percent disability rating since September 1, 2008. The appeal for higher ratings was denied.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's diagnosed mental health disability is not related to his military service, and concluded it was more likely due to his ongoing polysubstance abuse.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right leg sprain, and increased evaluations for PTSD and right knee arthritis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a separate current diagnosis of a right leg disability distinct from his already service-connected right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling effective October 15, 2013. His headaches are rated at 30 percent and his recurrent superficial fungal skin infection of the perineum is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was granted with an effective date of March 24, 2006.,His hearing loss disability is rated as compensable.