PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA and private medical records, as well as psychological evaluations, it was concluded that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or other psychiatric condition related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from November 10, 2008 through March 24, 2013. The Board found that the evidence supported a 50 percent rating for this period.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claim should be remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The appeal is also remanded due to the need for further development regarding service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, NOS, with features of PTSD, was incurred during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD and TBI, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders (TDIU), are addressed. The Board finds that the Veteran perfected an appeal from the October 2008 rating decision that assigned the initial rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, proper notification regarding PTSD claims based on personal assault, and an appropriate psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for certain issues, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating, but not higher. The evidence shows that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and inadequate duty-to-assist compliance. The Veteran's claims for PTSD service connection and a nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy rating are being reviewed again with new evidence considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD due to new evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development and scheduling of a hearing. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as his reported stressors are consistent with the places, types and circumstances of his service. His lay testimony alone confirms the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not cause total occupational and social impairment from October 30, 2006 to June 10, 2014. His service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 30, 2006 forward.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for head trauma, chronic headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD), and a back disorder. The Veteran submitted new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess his current level of impairment from the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing on his claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since June 18, 2010 and denied an increased rating. The Board found that the condition warrants a 70% disability rating for the periods from June 18, 2010 to June 22, 2010 and from August 1, 2010.