PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is causally related to his military service, specifically an in-service personal assault. The benefit of doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that his claims were not supported by credible evidence and that his recollections of events during service were inconsistent.

The Veteran's PTSD and inguinal hernia disability have been granted service connection, with a 10% rating for the hernia.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed as the benefit sought was granted. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling from November 22, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of cold injury to the bilateral feet or PTSD, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss were denied, as there is no competent and credible evidence establishing current disabilities. The Veteran's claim of an increased rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right elbow disability and an increased rating for PTSD were dismissed as he did not perfect his appeal on these matters.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% prior to September 28, 2011, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, heart disease, and PTSD were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD has been granted. He is now entitled to the benefits sought.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and granted service connection for PTSD. The claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss was not reopened.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition. The claim for left knee injury disorder is reopened with the addition of new and material evidence, but service connection remains denied as there is no causal link between current symptoms and military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied it due to lack of a diagnosis in accordance with DSM-IV criteria. The Veteran's other psychiatric condition remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on his social and occupational functioning. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the relationship between his TBI and sleep apnea with service. The right forearm scar evaluation will also be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding pain on examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records, as well as information from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors, and thus, service connection for PTSD cannot be determined at this time.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete VA records and referred the case for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's TDIU rating is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.