PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and possibly a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is being reviewed.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his CAD, which contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are not service-connected. The acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder) is also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a personality disorder, has been reopened. The evidence received since the final October 2003 Board decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD for VA purposes, and therefore denied service connection for PTSD.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's last sickness was due to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore, the estate is entitled to reimbursement for expenses related to his care.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective from March 23, 2010, and prior to that date, the rating was 30 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's impairment met the criteria for a 70 percent rating beginning March 23, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment as of June 11, 2008. He was granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD effective from that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with sub-threshold PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 15, 2012. The claim for hypertension remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The effective date for this rating is October 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the following issues: entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD; entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome; and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 28, 2012 is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the Veteran's local RO. The Veteran requested a hearing but was sent to an old address, and his new address is not known.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine strain from April 3, 2009 to February 23, 2012 and reduced it to 10 percent from August 14, 2013. The Veteran's PTSD appeal was withdrawn at the hearing. No TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's appeal was not timely filed, and therefore the September 2008 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and assigning an initial 30 percent evaluation for PTSD is maintained.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective May 9, 2014. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the severity of his PTSD.