PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 3, 2010. The Board finds that the severity of his disability is sufficient to warrant no more than a 70 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's effective date for a 100% disability rating for PTSD and dementia of Alzheimer's type is set to December 1, 2009, as his condition met the criteria for such rating one year prior to filing his claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional records from Fort Sill military facility and VA clinics.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding her mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining alternative service information regarding the Veteran's period of ACDUTRA and any private medical records. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizoaffective disorder, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression due to military sexual trauma and service-connected disabilities, but denied the requests for higher evaluations for right ankle strain and abdominal scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right leg, back, right ankle, and right hip disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction and a right shoulder disability are also granted as they are related to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 10, 2014. Prior to that date, the Veteran was found unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD.

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the AOJ for appropriate development, including referral of the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination, including obtaining records related to the Veteran's 1979 divorce proceedings and scheduling a mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as it is related to fear of hostile military activity during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD results in social and occupational impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have included anxiety, depressed mood, suspiciousness, sleep impairment, recurring thoughts, anger and irritability, attention disturbance, persecutory delusions, fair impulse control, mildly impaired memory, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to consider his claimed stressor and any other acquired psychiatric disorders. All pertinent records must be obtained.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was 70 percent since October 1996, meeting the criteria for an additional allowance of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1311(a)(2).