PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and low back disability. The Veteran's hiatal hernia is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, sleep impairment due to nightmares, frequent panic attacks, mood disturbances, and mild memory dysfunction, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas from January 4, 2011 to October 30, 2013. The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD during this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA mental health treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or service-connected disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased ratings for PTSD, painful scar, mid scalp, scars of the mid scalp and right forehead, traumatic brain injury, and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination. The TDIU claim cannot be evaluated until the PTSD claim is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a further VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) has been withdrawn by his representative. As a result, the issue is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression and finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms, including PTSD and depression, and his military service. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service sexual assault corroborates the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 31, 2007. The Board found that the disability picture associated with his PTSD most closely approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood from December 31, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was found to warrant a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of his death in September 2012.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and cognitive disorder, effective March 25, 2009. A 60 percent disability rating for HSV, type 2 is also granted, effective June 1, 2010.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the failure of VA to provide proper notice for scheduling an examination, and the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and VA examination reports.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent prior to February 5, 2013. A TDIU was granted effective May 25, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and psychotic disorder, were not service-connected. The evidence did not establish a causal link between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and an earlier effective date were denied. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather the evaluation of PTSD.