PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted, but the RO assigned a 50 percent rating. The Board found that the evidence showed occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective January 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge, as the Veteran requested.

The Board has denied the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood; but not total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran is granted a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine disability have been granted increased ratings, with the TDIU claim also being granted. The PTSD remains at a 50% rating, while the lumbar spine is rated at 40%. The effective date for these changes has not been specified.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are found to be related to a personal assault during service.,Migraine headaches are determined to be secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorder. This includes obtaining private treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left shoulder impingement syndrome, make him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection with an initial rating of 30 percent effective August 20, 2009. A subsequent rating decision in June 2014 increased the rating to 70 percent effective September 17, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for psychiatric evaluations to assess the Veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD, and scheduling an appropriate VA examination for his calcaneal spur of the right heel.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine if his left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, the minimum rating required for this disability. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service combat stressors and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that there is sufficient evidence to link his current diagnosis with his in-service stressor. The issue of TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to ensure proper scheduling of VA examinations and notification at the Veteran's current address. The appeal is currently in a pending status due to these issues.