PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and a skin condition due to new evidence submitted since the final decisions. The appeals are now on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding issues related to PTSD and nervous condition, as well as scheduling another Board videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that the evidence submitted since the final denial was cumulative and did not provide new and material evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD and osteoarthritis of the hands have been rated appropriately, with a TDIU granted effective from September 9, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and burial benefits are denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits under either the old or new regulations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability and chronic headache. The original denial of these claims is now considered on their merits.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to assess the current level of disability due to the passage of time since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional personnel records and verify stressor events. The Board will consider service connection for PTSD and chronic adjustment disorder based on the evidence that becomes available.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective February 10, 2014. The VA has also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a rating of 70% for PTSD from June 11, 2002 to January 8, 2012. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's representative indicated satisfaction with the ratings assigned after January 9, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to October 6, 2011. The symptoms include reduced reliability and productivity due to mild memory loss, depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, and chronic sleep impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymia is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions (Anxiety Disorder NOS, Actinic Keratosis, and Tinnitus) is 80 percent. The Board finds that while the Veteran has significant service-connected disabilities, they do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 2, 2010. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD from September 1, 2005 to March 25, 2007, and since June 1, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a credible in-service stressor upon which to base a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is now entitled to a determination on his claim.