PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, which renders moot the appeal for TDIU due to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for service connection were not substantiated by the evidence of record. The Board found that there was no direct or secondary service connection for any claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently evaluated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that an initial rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism, but has determined that these claims are not granted on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and information about his employment history. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD and alcohol dependence has been found to cause occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The examiner should reconcile diagnoses in the record and provide opinions on whether these disorders are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, but after reviewing all evidence and considering the criteria, it was determined that there is no current disability related to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD disability has been rated at 30 percent since June 2011, and the Board finds that his current level of impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated assessment of his eligibility for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits, given changes in his employment status and combined evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 100 percent due to total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were contributory to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-V and his previous diagnoses were based on unverified reports of service in Vietnam. The examiner concluded he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the NARA record submitted did not trigger a duty to reconsider due to it being insufficient and not an official service department record. The United States District Court Docket report was also deemed not a service department record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including his schizophrenia diagnosis and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-patient treatment records and verifying the Veteran's reported stressors. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression and mood disorder as secondary to his spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder could not be established.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.