PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and to secure outstanding records, including VA treatment records from before 2008, SSA disability benefits records, and private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his PTSD, as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for PTSD and to ensure all relevant treatment records are obtained. The issues of initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities will be returned to the Board after issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence confirms the occurrence of in-service stressors and links them to his current symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's PTSD. The TDIU claim will also proceed with these developments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is etiologically related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of PTSD was not substantiated, but the acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (anxiety disorder) was found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since the date of service connection, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU from May 22, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The initial rating claim for PTSD will be readjudicated in light of any newly acquired evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since May 29, 2014. The VA examiner found the Veteran to have occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to his PTSD symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressor. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as his claims for service connection for right and left elbow conditions. The effective dates for these conditions were not changed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and therefore grants this claim. The issues of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and cataracts are also granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The issue of TDIU will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to military sexual trauma and there is a medical nexus between the current symptoms and an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD has caused total occupational and social impairment since November 4, 2011. The Board grants a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD as of that date.

The Board has determined that an effective date of December 12, 2008 is warranted for the award of service connection for PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a more current VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service, and denied his claims for PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional treatment records and a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD. The Veteran argues that his condition has worsened since the last examination, but there are no updated treatment records in the file.