PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a new VA opinion on the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a video-conference hearing and addressing the issues of reopening the left knee disability claim and rating PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss, foot disability, leg disability, sarcoidosis, migraine headaches, gynecological disability requiring hysterectomy, or back disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is also denied as there is no evidence of a psychosis within one year of separation from service and no continuity of symptomatology since then.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric condition that is shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from April 21, 2009 to November 13, 2009 and at 30 percent from November 13, 2009 to January 2, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during these periods.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, umbilical hernia, thoracolumbar strain, and left elbow strain. The issues of entitlement to evaluations in excess of 10 percent for these conditions are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that an effective date of August 19, 2009 is warranted for the grant of service connection for PTSD and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia. The Veteran's symptoms were present prior to this date but not previously service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, PTSD due to military sexual trauma, and anxiety disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence supporting the claimed incidents of military sexual trauma or a causal relationship between any diagnosed conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for nonservice-connected pension, service connection for oligospermia, and basal cell carcinoma. The decision also addressed issues related to PTSD and hyposmia but did not reach a final determination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be deferred until this process is completed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the November 2009 grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD resolved all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU as his disability does not preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increased rating for any of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that his symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records since July 2015 and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claim will be considered in light of all evidence added to the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a social and industrial survey to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 9, 2008. The Board finds that his disability picture warrants a higher rating of 50 percent.