PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal must be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a new VA examination to assess his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his psychiatric disorder is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied as the evidence did not provide sufficient information to identify and obtain relevant service department records prior to the final adjudication of his original December 2007 claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his secondary service connection theory.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address the relationship between his claimed psychiatric disorders and service.

The Veteran is granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD effective April 4, 2011. The grant of SMC based on housebound status is also granted effective April 4, 2011. TDIU is granted from November 17, 2009 to February 8, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before the Board due to the Veteran's request, and will handle any additional development or other appropriate actions in an expeditious manner.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, was rated at 50 percent from December 8, 2006 to March 3, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD with MD and APD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment since July 2, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied. His PTSD and Parkinson's disease were granted with a 70% rating, effective from January 20, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and denied the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran's GERD is considered to have had its onset in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is caused by his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Board found that his symptoms warranted a higher rating than the current 30 percent assigned.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition during or after service, and his claimed in-service stressor is not supported by credible evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development to determine his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling and he has sufficient additional service-connected disabilities to bring his combined rating to 80 percent; these service-connected disabilities preclude the Veteran from maintaining gainful employment. The criteria for TDIU are met.

The Veteran's PTSD impacts his occupational functioning, but it does not preclude the ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and prior occupational history.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, postoperative total left shoulder arthroplasty, is rated at 50 percent effective November 1, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's occupational impairment. The appeal is now pending again.