PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound, lumbar spine disorder, and hypertension are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies, including the failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case addressing additional evidence added to the record since the most recent statements of the case or supplemental statements of the case.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective September 25, 2009. The Veteran's symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms such as sleep disturbances, social isolation, memory impairment, irritability, anxiety, and panic attacks less than once per week. These symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to October 22, 2009. The evaluation has not changed since then.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent since February 25, 2014.,Effective from February 25, 2014, the Veteran was granted an increased rating for his PTSD to 70 percent and assigned effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 14, 2010. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that his anxiety disorder NOS with posttraumatic features is related to his service. The claim for PTSD was denied, while the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and polysubstance abuse is rated at 100 percent, effective April 24, 2006. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU has been rendered moot by the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD. The case is remanded for further development regarding SMC eligibility.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service personal assault.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, but the Veteran does not have posttraumatic stress disorder related to an in-service stressor. The claims are denied as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a mental disorder, including PTSD and depression, cannot be reopened due to insufficient evidence to verify his in-service stressor. The case is being remanded to conduct additional research into his service in Grenada in November 1983.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA mental health treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination to determine if the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service sexual assault.

The Board finds that the Veteran's in-service stressors occurred and are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD and anxiety disorder, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as his service did not meet the threshold requirements. The Board also found that he should be afforded a VA examination to determine the etiology of any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 3, 2013. The claim for an earlier effective date is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms approximating occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to March 21, 2013 have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD service connection, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.