PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The service connection issue remains unresolved as no issues were raised in the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 50 percent since January 24, 2015. The Board has granted an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's in-service stressors and whether he satisfies the DSM criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but has decided that her claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not warranted based on the evidence of record. The issues have been REMANDED to allow further development.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has tinnitus, but it is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder including PTSD remains pending. His initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings, earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was met as of July 26, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying the Veteran's hearing request.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 30 percent disability rating effective February 22, 2002. The appeal is for an increased rating prior to this date.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 14, 2011 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's original claim was denied in April 2010 and a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed within one year of notification.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of September 25, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to the DSM-IV criteria. The examiner found no evidence of a link between the claimed in-service stressors and the current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a typographical error in the supplemental statement of the case and for an additional VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, with an effective date of December 10, 1996. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability and gynecological disorder are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU prior to January 6, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from March 23, 2010 to May 15, 2011.,A total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders is being considered.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 100% effective March 11, 2014. Prior to that date, the rating was 70%. The Major Depressive Disorder issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to April 3, 2014. The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD.