PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an unredacted copy of a NIS report and determining whether the Veteran's name appears in it. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its interdependence with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective September 14, 2001. The symptoms described align with a GAF score in the range of 61-70, indicating moderate symptoms (e.g., occasional depression or anxiety) but generally functioning well.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of head trauma, PTSD, or an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD attributable to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they are only indicative of reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has found that the Veteran's eczema did not begin in service and is otherwise not related to service, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The claim for PTSD was remanded but no additional examination or evidence was provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The issue is now before the Board for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment notes and an addendum opinion from a VA psychiatrist to clarify the Veteran's occupational and social impairment due solely to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD should be August 23, 2004, based on the Veteran's original claim received at that time. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for a scalp laceration scar is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing and notifying the Veteran of the date, time, and location of the hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that a claim was filed within one year of his discharge from active duty, and the earliest date of entitlement is August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder was granted in a September 2010 rating decision, effective July 7, 2010. The earlier effective date of October 8, 1996 is granted based on the receipt of relevant official service department records that existed but had not been associated with the claims file when VA first decided the claim.

The Board has ordered a new examination and requested additional evidence to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service. The appeal is currently on hold for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to missing records and the need for additional development, including verification of combat stressors, a VA examination, and consideration of pre-service psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 1, 2010. The rating is granted effective that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since July 25, 2012. The initial rating for PTSD was increased from 10 percent to 70 percent.