PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's request for service connection for PTSD and depression has been remanded due to an outstanding VA hearing request. The appeal will be reconsidered after the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling effective May 31, 2007. The claim for a TDIU remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and drug and alcohol abuse, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such conditions.,Service connection was also denied for drug and alcohol abuse as it is considered to be due to his own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating prior to December 8, 2014, and since then he has experienced occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD, secondary to her service-connected GERD is being remanded due to the need for a VA addendum opinion on whether her current psychiatric disorders are aggravated by her service-connected GERD.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left eye disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been, nor is it caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent since October 3, 2012. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as flattened affect, intermittent panic attacks, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and disturbances of motivation and mood.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is causally related to his in-service military stressors and granted service connection for PTSD. The heart disease was not linked to service, but the erectile dysfunction secondary to medications for PTSD was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, and the Board has found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional information from the Veteran regarding his service stressors and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorders and skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims will be reviewed again after these developments are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination to address his claims.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a Travel Board hearing for issues related to service connection and increased rating claims. The Veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all, e.g., clothing allowance or fee disputes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran was provided with a VA examination and his claims were readjudicated.

The Veteran's request for a BVA videoconference hearing has been advanced. The case is being remanded to schedule the desired hearing in accordance with the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals, posttraumatic stress disorder, patellofemoral syndrome (right knee), and lumbar strain were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for boils on the head was denied in June 2005, and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied in June 2005. New and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the effective date of his claim, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been the result of herbicide exposure during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran served near the perimeters of the Royal Thai Air Force base at Nakh Phanom in Thailand and is therefore presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by total occupational and social impairment from February 6, 2006 to July 2, 2008. The Board granted a disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD effective February 6, 2006.