PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted the claim, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis with PTSD and establishing an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his PTSD. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the disability evaluation of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case due to newly received VA examination results. The issue remains on appeal regarding an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with polysubstance abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The Veteran is found to have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service harassment, which is considered an adequate stressor.

The Veteran's sleep apnea has not been shown to be related to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to service connection for this condition. The TDIU claim will be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons or bases in support of its October 2015 decision denying an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The Veteran is required to be afforded a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for epididymitis and PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assigned a rating.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 12, 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for a TDIU based on the newly assigned PTSD rating for the period from September 12, 2003 to March 7, 2008 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was granted. The rating assigned is 70 percent from December 19, 2008 to April 4, 2014 for the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on the effective date issue.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is due to military sexual trauma experienced during her period of ACDUTRA. Her hypothyroidism and bilateral heel spurs are not service-connected as they did not begin during or were otherwise caused by her period of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current PTSD symptoms and their impact on his daily life. The Veteran asserts that his PTSD symptoms have worsened since his last evaluation in January 2012, requiring him to increase medication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess PTSD and a diabetes mellitus evaluation. The service connection issue will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been resolved in part. His higher rating and earlier effective date claims for lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted, as well as his TDIU claim based on service-connected disabilities. However, his initial rating claim for tinnitus is dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.