PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, was found to warrant a 70 percent rating since May 15, 2012. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating, and he is also granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying a claimed in-service stressor and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but appropriate hygiene was maintained. The current evaluation for PTSD remains at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability of sleep apnea in service or for many years thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including consideration of a secondary service connection theory regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's PTSD resulted in manifestations that more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to May 27, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia already accounts for his current psychiatric symptoms, including PTSD-like symptoms. No other psychiatric disability has been diagnosed.,Nocturnal enuresis was noted during service and continues after separation.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, the claim remains denied as there is no credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. An effective date of January 29, 2010, is assigned for the award of a compensable rating for right knee disability. The claims for increased ratings for left knee disability, hearing loss disability, and TDIU prior to November 9, 2013 are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD and low back disability, as well as the TDIU claim are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination. The issues of TDIU, service connection for back disability, urinary frequency, bilateral lower extremity tingling and numbness, right little finger injury, hearing loss, and special monthly compensation based on spousal aid and attendance are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and asbestosis are still pending.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was not filed with respect to the December 2008 rating decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim was reopened based on new and material evidence other than service department records, but no effective date prior to September 20, 2010 is granted as that would be the earliest possible effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks that occur weekly or less often, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions or recent events), disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting), and obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities. The criteria for an initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD have been met for the entire period on appeal; however, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent have not been met for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and a low back disability. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.