PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 30 percent prior to November 13, 2014. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the minimum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Rating Mental Disorders. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had mild symptoms of PTSD, including depression, anxiety, and occasional panic attacks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Raleigh Vet Center and VA medical centers.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during service and determined that the current acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be a result of an in-service stressor, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of asthma has been remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and toenail disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD during service or within one year of separation. The evidence also failed to show a causal relationship between any diagnosed condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the correct diagnosis and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including whether his verified stressor event in service supports a PTSD diagnosis. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, and mood. The evidence is in equipoise regarding the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records, as well as scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 70 percent disabling, which reflects the severity of his symptoms and impairment. The appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has caused him to be unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment starting from December 29, 2005. Although he was employed in December 2005, he had stopped working prior to filing his claim. His employment in 2006 was part-time and no more than marginal.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, MDD, anxiety disorder and a neurological disability (headaches, muscle burning, memory loss and tics/tremors) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders. The seizure disorder claim is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since March 3, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms are currently mild and do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The VA examiner should address whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 23, 2009 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The effective date remains at September 23, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration of a TDIU based on the evidence of record, including an August 2015 vocational assessment submitted by the Veteran.