PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was not manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to January 14, 2012. As of January 14, 2012, the disability has not been manifested by total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, Dysthymic Disorder, or Adjustment Disorder based on direct evidence and denied his claims.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD from November 14, 2004 to February 9, 2009. As this constitutes total disability due to service-connected conditions, the issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, hypervigilance, sleep impairment, and intermittent passive suicidal ideation. The evidence does not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to a lack of credible evidence corroborating the occurrence of his claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,It was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's right knee sprain with instability and left knee sprain with instability increased to a 10 percent disability rating prior to November 24, 2008.,The Veteran's left osteoarthritis acromioclavicular joint with subacromial bursitis is manifested by limitation of motion at shoulder level but not anklyosis. The effective date for the 10 percent rating remains unchanged as it was granted on July 10, 2009.,The Veteran's Achilles tendonitis with osteoarthritis, right ankle and left ankle are both currently rated at 10 percent and have no evidence of ankylosis or other significant impairment. The effective date for the 10 percent ratings remains unchanged as they were granted on July 10, 2009.,For the entirety of the period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was granted with an effective date of October 15, 2009.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for PTSD to a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be adjudicated again in light of all evidence received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and relevant ongoing medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records, conduct a VA examination, and address the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his active service. The issues on appeal include seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD and other conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent, effective March 4, 2010. The rating remained unchanged as of November 7, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and for further adjudication of his PTSD evaluation and TDIU claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed conditions for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD consistent with DSM criteria, and therefore, service connection for PTSD is not warranted.