PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development of evidence related to his claims, including review of SSA records and VA DBQs. The case will then be returned to the Board if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include pulmonary embolism, was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim. The Board also addressed and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for the claims office to review his mental health disability claims, including PTSD, depression, and drug and alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was initially rated at 30 percent prior to April 23, 2015.,Since April 23, 2015, the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has not warranted a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding his diagnosed conditions and their relationship to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is supported by evidence of behavior changes related to in-service personal assaults. The other claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, finding that it is etiologically related to active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for service connection for PTSD prior to March 24, 2010. Therefore, the effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at March 24, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board found that this rating is not sufficient to grant a higher rating. The Veteran was also denied TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD with bipolar disorder from April 11, 1974, to November 6, 1996, and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent from November 7, 1996, to October 7, 1999.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 18, 2011 and is currently rated at 50 percent from July 10, 2003 through January 6, 2008. The appeal for higher initial ratings remains pending.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include adjustment disorder with mixed anxious and depressed mood, is etiologically related to the Veteran's military service. Fibromyalgia was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since October 19, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's March 2006 notice of disagreement was not timely, and thus denied his claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a neck condition, and a back condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is found to be related to his service and granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability present, as well as evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and she is now entitled to a 50 percent rating for her migraine headaches. She also meets the criteria for TDIU.