PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD during the appeal period and there is no competent medical evidence linking his symptoms to military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD with major depressive disorder and its impact on employment. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been granted increased ratings of 50 percent effective April 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for increased PTSD rating, service connection for OSA, and reopening of fatigue disorder and headache disorder claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The claim for a fatigue disorder was not reopened as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claim for a headache disorder was reopened based on new medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with communication and the need for a hearing. The claim includes service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, PTSD, and substance abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms causing occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, requesting that all issues be dropped.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 19, 2011, for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was previously denied in October 2004 and a new claim was received on September 19, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders first manifested in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability contributed substantially or materially to cause his death. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's back disorder is service-connected, but his bilateral knee disorders and breathing problems are not.,His left elbow disorder was resolved in-service. His acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) secondary to migraines is also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery for a service-connected disability was dismissed due to the grant of such benefit in a May 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the current nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and a skin disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed stressors and the evaluation of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD claimed as sleep difficulties, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no higher. The issues of entitlement to service connection for TBI, dental trauma, asthma, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), and hearing loss in the right ear are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding his current diagnoses of PTSD and depressive disorder NOS.