PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, including an in-service B-52 aircraft fire incident. The claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify a military stressor and conduct a VA PTSD examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue and sleeplessness have been denied as these conditions are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depression are related to his service, specifically the death of his brother during active duty. The claims for service connection are therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and residuals of frostbite of the hands and feet preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's private treatment records for PTSD and requested an addendum opinion from the VA Director of Compensation Service regarding whether a TDIU rating is warranted on an extraschedular basis. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected PTSD for the period prior to November 19, 2013.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is related to service and the Board finds that service connection for PTSD is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records from the Richmond and Lake Jackson VA Outpatient Clinics.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The current rating of 30 percent prior to July 6, 2015 and 70 percent thereafter remains in effect until further notice.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and obtaining updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be deferred until additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from November 5, 2004 to August 9, 2006.

The Board found that the effective date for service connection of PTSD should be changed from September 1, 1994 to August 9, 1994 due to a factual error in when the claim was received.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol and polysubstance abuse in remission, and personality disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.