PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with mild depressive disorder has not resulted in symptoms demonstrating or approximating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, thus the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder prior to April 15, 2016, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is etiologically related to the Veteran's period of active service. The claim for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have materially contributed to his death, which was caused by coronary pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on hospital treatment of service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria established by VA regulations.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period from January 1, 2011, to September 2, 2014, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability or diagnosis of PTSD, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to April 9, 2012. From April 9, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to an effective date earlier than October 2, 2009, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for multi-level degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the cervical spine. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) and a cognitive disorder have been granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. Additionally, he needs an examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities make him unemployable.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, due to his service or a service-connected disability. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and right knee disorders in February 2007. The Veteran's claims of reopening these issues are still pending.,The Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, psychiatric disability including PTSD, or tinea cruris.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 8, 2010. This decision resolves the appeal as there is no earlier effective date warranted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence and the absence of corroborating evidence of combat participation. The Veteran's unit received an award indicative of combat, but he did not receive any individual award clearly indicating his participation in combat.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since April 1, 2002. The claim for TDIU has been granted and the effective date for service connection of PTSD prior to June 11, 2001 has not been established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 70% or more.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substance abuse is not related to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and polysubstance abuse disorder are related to service, specifically an incident where a fellow soldier fell from a cliff. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.