PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially to his death from a heart attack, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from December 4, 2008 to November 3, 2009.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychological disorder (other than PTSD) as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain were all granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, including PTSD. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating since October 4, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Veteran's urticaria has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since February 1975. The most recent VA examination in December 2013 found the Veteran to have no current diagnosis or obvious signs/symptoms of generalized urticaria, and noted that his condition did not impact daily activities.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for further development and readjudication, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's mood disorder was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including obtaining the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation records and current treatment records. The case will be returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not yet decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA psychological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left wrist disability and skin disability has been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing scheduled in February 2015. The case will be returned to the AOJ for scheduling another hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran filed a formal or informal claim within one year of his separation from active duty. The earliest possible effective date, January 13, 2006, when the Veteran first submitted a claim for service connection, has been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied, with the RO finding that his symptoms were adequately addressed by a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for PTSD, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of June 29, 1990. The Board found that the denial in October 1992 did not become final due to inadequate notice and thus the earlier claim should have been considered.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it more closely approximates a 50 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.