PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The RO found that the evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for new and material evidence. For the knee issues, the RO determined that prior to November 23, 2015, the Veteran's right and left knee strains did not cause either a compensable limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine if service connection can be granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being considered.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, as her claims were based on a military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnosis, including PTSD, is related to his service and has been linked by competent medical evidence to a verified in-service stressor event. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address the impact of his diabetes mellitus on his employment and daily activities, as well as consider all service-connected disabilities in conjunction with each other.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The remaining claims of service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, right arm disability, left arm disability, and neck disability are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mood disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and grants this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating for the period from December 6, 1991 to September 10, 2008, and a 20 percent disability rating for the period from September 10, 2008. The Veteran is found to have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an anxiety disorder, which is considered a direct result of his military service. The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his time in active service and aggravation by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining her SSA records and providing an addendum VA examination to address the severity of her service-connected psychiatric disability and whether she can secure or follow a substantially-gainful occupation.

The Board found no current neuropsychiatric disability and concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling effective February 3, 2010. The Board found that the evidence supports a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since April 26, 1990. During the appeal period, his symptoms included irritability, avoidance, numbness, trouble sleeping, hypervigilance, hyperactive startle reflex, nightmares, intrusive memories, anxiety, anger, difficulty following complex commands, and forgetfulness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a neurologic examination to determine the current level of impairment due to her service-connected right hand disability.

The Veteran was working full-time as a drug task force police officer from January 2005 to May 21, 2011. The Board finds that the service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of PTSD symptoms and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a whole, and he is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.