PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new psychiatric examination and the retrieval of VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board after this.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disorder during service and concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination. The issues of an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. Updated VA treatment records are also needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms. The Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of October 9, 2009. However, the Board found that the earliest effective date allowed under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.400 is October 31, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have been rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities was correctly calculated by the RO, and revision of this rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for another VA examination to determine his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, as well as for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no legal authority to assign such a date.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation available. The VA examiner found that the Veteran experiences occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted from March 13, 2012, as his combined disability rating was at least 80% and he met the schedular requirements. The issue is moot after May 16, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for right upper extremity neurological impairment was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of mild or more severe neurological impairment related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. For TDIU, the Veteran's combined disability rating is 60%, which meets the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for another VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his psychiatric disorder, including whether any diagnosed conditions are related to service or pre-existed service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and insomnia resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, warranting a 70 percent rating. His bilateral hearing loss is not compensable. The Veteran was granted service connection for his headache disability and right ankle disability but denied service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable evaluation for PTSD prior to October 2, 2001. The case has been remanded due to the need for clarification of which symptoms are attributable to his PTSD during this period.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and cognitive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 6, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia, are related to his fear of hostile military activity during service. Therefore, service connection is granted.