PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered a VA examination and requested additional evidence in order to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination with opinion. The Veteran contends she has a psychiatric disorder related to her military service, but the June 2015 VA examination did not diagnose PTSD or confirm its relationship to her military service.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to regulatory requirements, and therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with depression and assigned a 70 percent disability rating effective February 20, 2015. The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of September 24, 2006 for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as sleep impairment, flashbacks, nightmares, memory loss, avoidance behaviors, anxiety, anger/outbursts, irritability, and depression. This represents occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for chronic yeast infections during the March 2016 Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify the level of impairment caused by his service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety, and depression have been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not more closely approximate total impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the initial grant of service connection, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with a depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records and provide a supplemental opinion regarding his diagnoses of bipolar disorder and depression.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all acquired psychiatric disorders present during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's initial ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD have been increased to 30 percent each, with the effective date of December 4, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. His claim for service connection for MS is granted, but his TDIU claim is moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and cataracts, finding that the Veteran's reported experiences during service in Vietnam are sufficient to establish fear of hostile enemy action. Service connection for hypertension is also granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating of PTSD and a request for an effective date prior to June 27, 2011. The case is being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. On remand, the Veteran will be provided notice regarding secondary service connection and a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD.