PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence. The issue remains in appellate status with an initial higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood; there has not been total occupational and social impairment. The criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify a stressor event in service that may be related to the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD based on an alleged stressor of witnessing and assisting with the aftermath of a fellow service member being killed by TNT.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and granted service connection based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for PTSD, stomach disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, traumatic head/brain injury, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, or left inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the VA RO in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a right leg disability examination and review of claims regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was granted, and the effective date is set at February 24, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claims for service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disability, and tinnitus. The AOJ must obtain all pertinent records from VA facilities and attempt to reschedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and TDIU. The Board finds that no such effective dates are warranted as there is no evidence indicating intent to seek benefits prior to July 7, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied in September 2006 due to the lack of service-connected disabilities alone rendering him unemployable. The December 2006 rating decision became final as he did not file a timely notice of disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and he is now rated at 30% for his diplopia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and possibly scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The appeal also includes a claim regarding potential clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision denying PTSD.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, as well as whether he meets the criteria for permanent housebound status.

The Veteran's PTSD with comorbid alcohol abuse was found to warrant a 70 percent evaluation prior to March 28, 2014. The appeal is denied for the period after March 28, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD disability has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that it would warrant a higher rating under VA's general rating formula for mental disorders.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection has been granted.