PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment for the entire appeal period, warranting a 100 percent rating. The grant of this rating renders moot her claim for TDIU as she is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left lower extremity sciatica and PTSD are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and headaches are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The reduction in rating for a right ankle disorder from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating was proper, and this portion of the appeal period is no longer before the Board.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU for the entire rating period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a travel Board hearing. The Veteran's appeal is now pending and will be handled in accordance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual scarring from acne is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a history of acne during her military service, which resulted in scarring on her face.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including those related to PTSD and myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety), finding new and material evidence. The appeals are granted to this limited extent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the verification of a stressor and additional examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating. However, his TDIU claim was granted as he has been deemed unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has granted a higher rating to reflect his current level of disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board has ordered the case back to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion regarding when PTSD manifested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol abuse, which is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, was a contributory cause of his death as it substantially and materially contributed to his subdural hematoma due to blunt force trauma of the head.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is directly related to service or caused by his service-connected PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD with adjustment disorder has been evaluated as 50 percent disabling, but the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal in July 2015 after receiving increased disability ratings for PTSD and myositis of the thoracic spine, a TDIU award, and satisfaction with the most recent supplemental statement of the case.