PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service periods and obtaining service treatment records from the Army Reserves. The issues include reopening a claim for bilateral inguinal hernias, entitlement to hypertension service connection, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 5, 2006 and the appeal is for an earlier effective date to December 9, 2009.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, primary insomnia, panic disorder, and GAD. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional information regarding the correction of his DD Form 214.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to determine the etiology of any diagnosed migraines and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's social and occupational impairment is more nearly approximates deficiencies in most areas than total impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the evidence does not support a finding that any diagnosed condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since June 18, 2010. A 50 percent evaluation is granted for the period prior to November 16, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and any SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 6, 2015. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from the same date.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in any degree of disability greater than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to November 8, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that further development is required prior to adjudicating the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, verify the claimed stressor, and schedule the appellant for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is denied as there is no medical evidence diagnosing a current disability and the VA examiner found that the Veteran does not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his tinnitus and service.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from March 1, 2009 to October 24, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, claimed as atrial fibrillation, was denied. However, his PTSD was granted with a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by no worse than mild or transient symptoms, resulting in occupational and social impairment. The Board denied the claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran does not experience current disability due to PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include persistent depressive disorder, which could be attributed to active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.