PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining additional records and medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to December 17, 2015 did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as his symptoms were not indicative of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and deep venous thrombosis. The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.,The Board found that there is no indication of any event, injury, or disease during the Veteran's period of active duty training (ACDUTRA), which precluded him from receiving presumptive service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's initial PTSD rating was increased to 70 percent, effective August 11, 2004. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim (April 17, 2006), and he has been granted TDIU since August 13, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and right occipital area shrapnel wound scar are of such severity that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, was incurred as a result of events during service. The heart disease was not incurred in service or due to herbicide exposure, but may be presumed based on onset soon after service. The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder did not result in total occupational and social impairment for the entire initial rating period, thus preventing a higher disability rating.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, right hip condition, and low back condition due to new evidence. The Veteran's alcohol abuse claim is denied as it is not a secondary result of an organic disease or disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The initial disability ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral knee disability, back disability, and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and peripheral vascular disease with claudication, status post right popliteal bypass do not alone render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing to address his claims of increased PTSD ratings, service connection for blindness secondary to PTSD, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for blindness, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. The evidence shows that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether a diagnosed condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience during the period when he was unemployed.

The Veteran's major depression with PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to November 10, 2015, and a TDIU was granted effective that date.,Prior to November 10, 2015, the Veteran's major depression with PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to issues with the examination reports, including a need for an updated VA examination. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.