PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim must also be addressed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back disorder, finding that new evidence supports these claims.,Service connection is now established for the Veteran's current chronic lumbosacral strain with leg pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with Nerve Condition contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental health records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling, which contemplates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory; impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD does not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA mental health treatment records and ensure that all pertinent details of the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis are available in the claims file. The Veteran will be examined by an appropriate psychiatrist or psychologist to determine if he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and to ascertain the likely etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for scars due to burns on the right upper extremity and anterior truck was denied as his scars did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7802.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, was also denied. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 20, 2008. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have also been met.

The Board found that a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is not the result of a disease or injury in active service. The appellant's claim for bilateral hearing loss was also addressed but is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating. The claims for left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder were all denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral foot disability, other than peripheral neuropathy, is denied as there is no evidence of such a condition during the pendency of her appeal. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND section.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for additional development, including obtaining a detailed statement from the Veteran regarding his post-service work history and education. A supplemental opinion is requested from the VA examiner who performed the PTSD DBQ to discuss the effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with Personality Disorder, NOS, was manifested by symptoms such as sleep disturbance, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, below average energy, past suicidal ideation, feeling anxious at times, depressive feelings, avoiding situations or places due to fear, exaggerated startle response, excessive reluctance to go out in public, history of traumatic events, social isolation and a feeling alienated from others. For the period from January 18, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD with Personality Disorder, NOS, was manifested by symptoms such as recurrent and distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts or perceptions, recurrent distressing dreams of the event, acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring; this includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated.

The Board has expanded the issue to encompass all psychiatric disabilities shown by the record, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and agoraphobia. The case is now remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent for the entire appeal period, and the Board finds that his symptoms warrant a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and posttraumatic stress disorder. The case is being returned for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran does not have PTSD and the Board finds that his psychiatric symptoms are better explained by substance abuse rather than service stressors.