PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD based on new and material evidence. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is considered as a result of military service.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms are better explained by substance abuse rather than service connection. The claim for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the right knee combined to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since October 19, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was initially denied in March 1982. After the submission of relevant service records confirming his in-service stressors, the effective date for the grant of service connection has been changed to January 21, 1981.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for PTSD, and the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD and whether it is possible to separate its effects from his nonservice-connected depressive disorder NOS. The claim will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression was found to be less than the required 50% for an increased rating prior to April 18, 2011. From April 18, 2011 through February 9, 2012, the Veteran's condition did not warrant a higher rating.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, was found to warrant a rating of 50 percent prior to January 25, 2016, and 30 percent since then. The decision also addressed the issue of TDIU but did not specify a final rating or effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to a witnessed traumatic event during service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder was denied, but he received an effective date of July 31, 2012, for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The appeal is mixed as it includes both granted and denied issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted effective May 20, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and a depressive disorder was denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV/DSM-5 and his current symptoms do not meet full criteria for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder, and there is no evidence linking his symptoms to service. The claim for GERD was also denied as there is no clear relationship between the condition and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and malaria do not preclude him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 22, 2010, reflecting symptoms of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depression, as well as his claim for PTSD. The decision is based on new evidence provided by a private psychiatrist in February 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and provide a VA examination. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, will be addressed.