PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has combined and recharacterized the Veteran's multiple service connection claims for psychiatric disorders as a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder. The case is REMANDED for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claim of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was received on February 25, 2009. Therefore, an effective date of February 27, 2009, is granted for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and will reconsider them after obtaining additional STRs.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, and finds that there is sufficient evidence to support this diagnosis. The Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety disorder with associated depressive disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's missed hearing, and will not address service connection issues until this is resolved.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding his psychiatric disabilities and right ear drum perforation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating higher than the current 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided and the need to address a pre-existing anxiety disorder not otherwise specified.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for asthma was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective August 16, 2010. The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder remains at a 50 percent rating. No new housing or home adaptation grant is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not more closely approximate those required for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability for VA purposes related to fibrocystic breast disease and denied her claim. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and addressing the issues of a 100 percent schedular evaluation for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for Schizoaffective Disorder and denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's Schizoaffective Disorder is found to be related to his military service, while the evidence does not support a finding that he experienced or witnessed an in-service stressor sufficient to establish PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD under DSM-5 and whether his acquired psychiatric disorder, including sleep disturbance, is related to service. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but will be rated at 50 percent effective October 19, 2015. The TBI has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 27, 2009. The VA examiner found that the Veteran exhibits occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in judgment, thinking, family relations, work, mood or school. However, his symptoms are considered mild based on GAF scores ranging from 50 to 62.