PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service and there is corroborating evidence of an in-service stressor. The low back disability claim remains pending as it relates to a period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders and a psychosis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination.

The Veteran is seeking to have the effective date for his TDIU granted earlier, arguing that there was CUE in the July 2002 rating decision which assigned a 30 percent initial disability rating for PTSD and an effective date of May 30, 2002 for the award of TDIU. The Veteran contends that he should have received a higher initial disability rating for his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. The case is now remanded for further development including an examination and attempt to confirm stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of his pre-service mental health history.

The Veteran is entitled to a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD effective November 6, 2009. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and related psychiatric disorders is granted. The appeal concerning autoimmune hepatitis, secondary to Raynaud's Disease, was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for another VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD, as there have been significant shifts in its severity over time.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective prior to September 9, 2013. The appeal for an increased rating has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 12, 2002 for diabetes mellitus was granted. The earliest possible effective date is December 12, 2003.,The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 8, 2003.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no new and material evidence. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or chloracne, nor is diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), skin disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hearing request for a Travel Board or Video Conference hearing should be rescheduled due to his absence, and he is notified of the next available date, time, and location.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing and his inability to notify VA of his change of address.

The Board has reopened the claim for PTSD and denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for a back and neck condition, as well as service connection for a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and right eye disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to verify stressor events and obtain a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The claim for a back disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any event in service associated with the lower back. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, PTSD rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to outstanding records and the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be caused by in-service exposure to excessive and harmful noise, resulting in a grant of service connection for tinnitus. The issue regarding PTSD remains pending as the Veteran has not participated in an examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since May 2010, effective August 9, 2011. The rating was increased to 50 percent in September 2011 and to 70 percent in February 2014.