PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the claim for an initial compensable rating for a left eye disability was granted with no assigned rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at his local regional office. The issues include rating adjustments and service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective January 9, 2012. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, and rectal prolapse are all denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board video-conference hearing due to his request. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are still under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the appeal as to this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration disability benefits information and National Guard service records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his other service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a pancreas disorder related to the Veteran's service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disorders are also not found to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently evaluated at a 50 percent rating, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant an evaluation higher than this.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and potentially conducting additional examinations or opinions. The claims of entitlement to an increased disability rating for PTSD and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the claim for an initial compensable rating for a left eye disability was granted with no assigned rating.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for cognitive difficulties and entitlement to a TDIU, including an examination to determine if these conditions are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran does not have PTSD that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective prior to November 8, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with its previous remand directives, including verifying the Veteran's alleged in-service stressor event and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).