PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD/nightmare disorder was previously rated at 30 percent prior to December 21, 2013 and granted a 50 percent rating effective from that date. The current appeal is about maintaining the increased rating since then.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's PTSD disability rating from 50% to 30% was not proper, as there is no evidence showing improvement in his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

For the period prior to May 11, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD with major depression was productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,From May 11, 2011 onwards, the disability picture has been characterized by reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets criteria for PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and whether such conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment notes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for service connection for other conditions (osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and chronic fatigue) is also denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent effective May 22, 2014. Prior to that date, the claim for an increased rating was granted but not yet assigned a specific percentage.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for posttraumatic stress disorder was denied as the earliest possible effective date is January 3, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess his PTSD disability, and providing an opinion regarding the etiology of any skin cancer found. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is etiologically related to his active service in Korea. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. The increased rating claim will be adjudicated first as it may impact the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. A VA examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders present during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressive mood had its onset in service, and the Board finds that all elements necessary to establish service connection have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available evaluation of 70 percent.,The Veteran's fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pains, tingling of limbs, poor concentration, mood and sleep disorder, respiratory condition, low grade fevers, and boils are considered to be manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with the Board's previous remand instructions. The AOJ will obtain missing in-service mental health clinical records and any VA treatment records from October 2014 to present. A new VA examination may be necessary if additional relevant service records are located.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of initial ratings in excess of 50 percent prior to December 8, 2014 and 70 percent thereafter for PTSD, as well as entitlement to a TDIU. As such, these matters are dismissed.