PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's anxiety disorder more nearly approximates occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks rather than reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining additional medical records and re-adjudicating his claim. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA psychiatric records and arranging for a new examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the earliest opportunity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA mental disorders examination and joints examination. The TDIU claim will also be considered in this process.

The Veteran's appeal of a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD has been dismissed as there was no timely notice of disagreement filed with the August 2010 decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the rating assigned for his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and verifying a claimed stressor. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and left knee disability.

The appellant withdrew his appeal, citing the decision to dismiss.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection is granted for hypertension, but not for sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hand disability, or bilateral elbow disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service sexual assault is corroborated by medical and other evidence, and therefore service connection for PTSD is granted. Sleep apnea is not found to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, hypertension, a shoulder disability, benign prostate hyperplasia, fatigue, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, skin disorders, allergies, sleep apnea, and hyperlipidemia. The reasons provided were that there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events, injuries, or diseases related to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD results in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating. The Board also found that the criteria for TDIU were met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of disability due to PTSD and when he ceased working. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol, cannabis and polysubstance abuse.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her service-connected disabilities, including a new VA examination for her lumbar spine disability and a Social and Industrial Survey.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and a vocational assessment to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and his migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.