PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied across multiple conditions and disabilities. The appeal is not about any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other specific bases.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is granted as the evidence supports a finding of service connection.,The status of service connection for sleep disorder (sleep apnea) is pending.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer have been rated as a 20 percent disability since December 10, 2008. This rating is based on urinary frequency at night.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms are not etiologically related to his military service and denied both his PTSD and cervical spine osteoarthritis claims.

The Veteran's appeal of an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for PTSD is dismissed as the May 2004 Board decision, which denied this claim, is final.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI have been rated based on their direct effects, without any presumption or secondary service connection. The appeals for increased ratings were denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD with bipolar disorder NOS, is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported military sexual trauma during service is credible and related to his current condition. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains an issue as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD on and after February 26, 2009. As such, this issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with psychotic features (schizophrenia) is granted a 100 percent evaluation, and the claim for TDIU is dismissed due to the total schedular rating being assigned. The schizophrenia claim is moot as it has been considered part of the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and service with the 7th Infantry Division, as well as to determine if there are any additional records that could corroborate his claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective July 22, 2010. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms and impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The Veteran is not rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no credible supporting evidence of his claimed in-service stressors and that the most probative and competent evidence does not reflect a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since May 15, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his disability was found to cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total.

The appeal is being remanded due to the inextricability of the TDIU claim with other service connection claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be adjudicated after a decision on his service connection claims.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD were rated at 70 percent prior to December 7, 2012, due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective February 27, 2009 due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.