PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board found insufficient evidence linking his neck or low back disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, which meets the criteria for TDIU based on schedular ratings. However, he remains employed and his service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to a lack of a verified PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 18, 2011. The appeal for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for PTSD, entitlement to service connection for contagious bacteria infection, memory disorder, and skin disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity and whether it precludes him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim must also be remanded for a VA examination. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the above-remanded issues.,The Veteran's right knee disability and diabetes mellitus claims are being remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's right knee disability and diabetes mellitus claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify his reported stressors, and schedule him for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, ulcers, and jungle rot of the feet.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no new and material evidence that would support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has caused problems with anger, social relationships, sleep disturbance, and nightmares. The current evaluation of 50 percent is appropriate given the severity of these symptoms.

The Veteran's accrued benefits claims for increased ratings of PTSD and shell fragment wounds were denied as his income exceeded the maximum limit for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are all granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since the effective date of service connection, July 28, 2010. The Board found that his symptoms and impairment from PTSD more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the onset and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU as of September 14, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and vision loss disability due to incomplete VA treatment records and other relevant documents. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.