PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing documents in his electronic claims file, including those from prior to September 2011. He has requested a videoconference hearing before the Board at the Los Angeles, California RO.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal for both claims of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the Board finds that there was an in-service stressor and a current diagnosis of PTSD, resulting from such stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was granted. The decision is based on the merits of his case without invoking any specific presumption or secondary condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity while deployed in Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to PTSD was granted, with a rating of 70 percent assigned. The effective date is not specified as the award has likely been implemented by the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current psychiatric disorder (other than a personality disorder) and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been restored to a 100% rating from January 1, 2010.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage liver disease due to alcohol use, which is linked to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death and denied death pension and accrued benefits as they are not applicable given the award of DIC.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, during the appeal period and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI is pending and not decided.,Service connection was granted for chronic kidney disease (CKD) effective January 16, 2009. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability rating remains at 70 percent.,PTSD with MDD disability ratings have been denied since February 26, 2014.,The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches effective May 28, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cramping of the upper and lower extremities and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service nor caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. The examiner will provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition began during or was otherwise caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.