PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, are found to be related to a conceded in-service stressor. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims of PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and a facial scar were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or that they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 10, 2011 for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been granted. The initial evaluation for PTSD is set at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 7, 2010. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, emotional detachment, flattened affect, sleep disturbances, and mild impairment of memory.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, meningitis, and hepatitis were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service. The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension limit.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD is denied as the November 1998 rating decision, which granted service connection and assigned May 6, 1998 as the effective date, became final. The Veteran did not appeal this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is a result of his service in Iraq, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not begin during his military service and is not otherwise related to his active duty service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as well.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for a new psychiatric examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's PTSD and for additional VA treatment records. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service combat. The Veteran is now entitled to a 100% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective May 2, 2011. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The issues of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and psychosis, as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for pansinusitis are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of June 30, 2012.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and to determine if he has any current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder NOS, related to service. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted, with a current rating of 50 percent. The evidence shows moderate symptoms and impairment in social functioning.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, and left occipital area fragment wound with chronic headaches and trigeminal neuropathy preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective April 5, 2011. The low back strain rating remains unknown as the appeal for this issue was not addressed in the decision.,PTSD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating, which is the maximum allowed under VA guidelines.