PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent for the entire increased rating period, but is now granted a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board has assigned a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to November 5, 2006.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, that was caused by his service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with previous directives, and the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for low back disability must be addressed again.

The Board has vacated the October 2013 decision and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. J.C., conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and determining whether his disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD has been granted, with the effective date being April 15, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD disability was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 25, 2008. After a remand and additional development, the VA assigned an increased rating of 50 percent effective from March 25, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to March 20, 2014, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran has shown significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death due to metastatic lung cancer, and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder, NOS has been rated at 70 percent since November 21, 2012. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant does not meet the eligibility requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 or accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in the reported stressors and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder claims are granted, but due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the diagnosis of PTSD, a clear link between current symptoms and service is not established. The depression claim was also reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission is rated at a 70 percent disability rating prior to November 1, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, GERD at 10 percent, and right leg radiculopathy at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been medically linked to service, and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for this disability. The low back disability rating remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as he did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for Hemorrhoids was also denied as there is no lay or medical evidence demonstrating a diagnosis of hemorrhoids or residuals thereof during the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to disagreement over whether the Veteran has PTSD or other mental illness, particularly related to events during his military service. Additional records are needed and a VA examination is required.