PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, with the diagnosis attributed to a personal assault during his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency from August 30, 2005, to August 21, 2013. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as PTSD, is related to his conceded in-service stressor and granted service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective the date of his December 2008 service connection grant for PTSD.

The VA determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as there is no evidence of inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claim due to new and material evidence, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no competent evidence of a stressor related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fatigue, joint pain and myalgia are not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The symptoms are more likely related to his diagnosed conditions such as cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, diabetes with neuropathy, PTSD, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board denied the claim of an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and did not establish service connection for tinea pedis.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 50 percent disabling. He argues that his symptoms more closely approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, which would be granted if he meets all other eligibility requirements.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since June 17, 2011. The Board granted a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for PTSD, effective from the date of his claim. He was granted a temporary total rating based on treatment for service-connected PTSD in a VA hospital.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding whether service-connected disabilities aggravate tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection and initial evaluations for various conditions, with the exception of PTSD prior to October 20, 2015. The right great toe disability is rated at 20 percent, while the low back disability remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the examiner's opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,An effective date earlier than November 23, 2007 for major depressive disorder has not been met due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 22, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD prior to August 21, 2015.