PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU award.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration, including a new VA mental disorders examination to evaluate his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has awarded an effective date of September 15, 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD based on new evidence submitted in August 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, which represents a full grant of all benefits sought.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the Board finds that there is credible and competent medical evidence of a PTSD diagnosis resulting from disease or injury incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 19, 2011. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's acquired mental disorders, including depression and PTSD, are not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective August 30, 2001. The Veteran's contentions and the Court's decision have focused on whether an earlier effective date prior to January 20, 1993 is warranted.

The Veteran's cerebral/cerebellar disability with memory deficit and PTSD have resulted in moderate impairment of memory, concentration difficulties, word choice difficulties, inappropriate behavior, anhedonia, self-isolation, irritability, and mild headaches. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that no pending claim existed prior to July 29, 2010.

The Board is remanding the case due to scheduling issues and will handle it in an expeditious manner. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, increased rating for invertebral disc syndrome, and reopening of bilateral hearing loss service connection are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD was denied as the earliest date entitlement to such rating arose is July 26, 2007.

The Board has determined that the April 2010 rating decision, which continued a 30 percent rating for PTSD, is not final and an interim September 2012 rating decision granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD, effective September 16, 2009, a temporary 100 rating, effective November 14, 2011, and a 50 percent rating from March 1, 2012. The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing service treatment records and the need for a new VA examination for PTSD. The issues of increased evaluation for PTSD, entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus are pending.