PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new opinions based on the newly obtained evidence and providing notice of potential sources of corroborating evidence.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was filed with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical records. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with depressive features and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of at least 30 percent, considering his occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The other issues remain pending for further examination and evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus. The decision also addressed his claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD but did not reach this issue due to other pending issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective prior to November 24, 2009. The symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity due to flattened affect, circumstantial speech, frequent panic attacks, memory impairment, judgment issues, abstract thinking difficulties, mood disturbances, and social isolation warrant a 50% rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings for PTSD and service connection for residuals of an eye injury, a hand disability, a skin disorder, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The case is being returned to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI was reopened and granted, with an effective date of April 4, 2013.,A compensable rating (20%) is assigned for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from April 4, 2013.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and a higher rating is denied.,Sciatic nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from January 13, 2011. The femoral nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from the same date.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, dyslipidemia, and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities has been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, dysthymia with anxiety features, and depressive disorder, is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating. The Board has determined that the evidence supports an increase to a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her need for aid and attendance and whether she is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially granted with a 30 percent rating effective October 12, 2010. The VA increased the rating to 50 percent effective January 20, 2012, and to 70 percent effective September 18, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including major depressive disorder.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination assessing the combined impact of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's employability. The appeal is currently in a pending status.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Appellant, and thus no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claim.