PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and consideration of all evidence, including recent VA treatment records that show further treatment for PTSD. The Veteran's current disabilities are severe enough to warrant a combined service-connected disability rating of 90 percent with a total disability rating for individual unemployability.

Prior to June 26, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, despite generally functioning satisfactorily with routine behavior.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that there is medical evidence of a link between his current PTSD symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as nightmares, difficulty sleeping, paranoia, and fear in crowds.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to November 1, 2010 and at 70 percent thereafter. The effective date for TDIU is set as August 16, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating. The right hand disability and PTSD were rated at the maximum available under the applicable codes, while the hearing loss condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, arthritis of multiple unspecified joints, and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD, as well as diabetes mellitus type II, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on direct service connection criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to January 28, 2013. The Board found that the frequency, severity and duration of his PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and dysthymic disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service personal assault or witnessed suicide attempts, and thus denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's other psychiatric conditions are not considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding service connection for coronary artery disease and reopening claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his in-service personal assault. However, there is also evidence suggesting these conditions may not be directly linked to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and his hypertension is not service-connected. The decision on PTSD grants the rating, but does not address the hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or PTSD that is related to his period of active military service. The VA examiners provided opinions concluding that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not due to noise exposure during service, and there is no evidence linking PTSD to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the rating for PTSD and service connection for a back disability, hypertension, prostate disability, and restless leg syndrome. The case is dismissed.