PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The appeals for reopening spinal disorder, dental disorder and cellulitis claims are dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for both issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed them.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder and assigned an effective date of June 29, 2010. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as suicidal thoughts but no plan of self-harm, depression, difficulty falling or staying asleep, hypervigilance, recurring distressing dreams, intense psychological distress exposure to trauma, efforts to avoid thoughts associated with trauma, inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma, and sense of foreshortened future. These symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded to allow for a new VA examination and the addition of any relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to ambiguity regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, as well as the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right ulnar nerve damage.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of outstanding treatment records. The case will be reviewed again after these steps are completed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a back disability, but denied reopening of his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing due to his request. The rating for PTSD and the service connection claim for right ear hearing loss are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and its effect on his social and occupational functioning. Additionally, efforts should be made to obtain any records pertaining to ongoing psychiatric treatment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD was granted effective November 10, 2011. This decision resolved the earlier effective date issue.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to his Reserve service, and the Board has ordered additional records to be obtained. The Veteran also needs VA examinations for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right ankle disability, sleep disorder secondary to PTSD, GERD and gastrointestinal issues secondary to PTSD, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, fibromyalgia secondary to PTSD, cervical spine disability, and loss of teeth #8 and #9. The primary issue is that the Veteran's claims are based on service connection for PTSD, which does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to aggravation by military noise exposure. The acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is not service-connected, but the Veteran has raised a claim for TDIU based on his current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a stroke, COPD, an eye disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and dyslexia. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to her service, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted, but others are denied.