PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain personnel records from his military service and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective September 8, 2009. The Board also granted separate ratings of 10 percent for radiculopathy in both lower extremities from January 14, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his claimed in-service head injuries. The VA will seek verification of these incidents from official sources.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, dysthymic disorder, and polysubstance dependence. The Veteran also received a grant of service connection for secondary stomach disorder. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and skin cancer, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The PTSD claim is granted as it meets the criteria for service connection due to a diagnosed condition related to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on his initial rating claim and an earlier effective date issue. The issues are related as they both pertain to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD and MDD, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, and back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened. His PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his hemorrhoids are not compensable.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors were not corroborated and thus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the need to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding his lumbar spine condition from June 18, 2007 and May 14, 2012. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it has a direct bearing on the lower back claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service sexual trauma and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Board has found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The preponderance of the competent evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 23, 2015. The rating was granted based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of either 50 percent or 70 percent, but no more, depending on the period considered. The decision is based on the current severity of symptoms and their impact on occupational and social functioning.