PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran did not provide credible supporting evidence to substantiate his claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and consideration of recent medical records. The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as depressive disorder, is found to be service-connected. The claim for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and antisocial personality disorder has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a link between service and the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's ED is reasonably shown to be causally linked to the medical treatment of his service-connected PTSD, and therefore service connection for ED as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and dementia, remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent effective January 29, 2016. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for consideration.

The Board has reopened the issue of whether the Veteran's character of discharge from service in October 1971 acts as a bar to receiving VA benefits. The appeal is granted, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating, but no higher, prior to June 13, 2012. For the period beginning June 13, 2012, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms consistent with occupational and social impairment that involves deficiencies in most areas, including work, family relations, judgment, concentration, and mood. However, the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD alone.

The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further development and readjudication due to incomplete records, specifically treatment records from Dr. M. M. at the Chico Vet Center.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination at the Lexington, Kentucky VA medical facility. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the results of this examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he has passed away.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the increased rating for depressive disorder and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and acne have been granted. The effective date for the acne service connection is pending resolution of a NOD filed in October 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to February 19, 2010 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The appeal is dismissed as moot because the Veteran was already in receipt of maximum benefits during the period from December 19, 2005 through January 31, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity throughout the period on appeal, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disability and neurological abnormalities of the lower extremities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied claim for meralgia paresthetica. The decision also addressed the issue of TDIU but did not reach a final determination.