PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not more nearly approximate those required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD features has been found to cause occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 2010, reflecting significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the Veteran's claim was not properly submitted within one year of receipt of a final denial and did not meet the criteria for reopening under new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for treatment purposes only are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, are not related to her active duty service. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish a link between her current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Board will also assess whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV or DSM-V, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 9, 2012. For the period prior to February 8, 2010, his PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be considered in light of this new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and CAD, finding the Veteran's reported stressors credible and related to his current symptoms. The decision is based on evidence of personal assault during service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions, including dysthymia, anxiety, and PTSD, rendered him unemployable prior to October 8, 2009. The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director of Compensation Service under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to consider entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from February 13, 2015. Prior to that date, his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. From that date, the combined rating of 90 percent due to bilateral upper extremity neuropathy and cervical spine disability made a TDIU warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied as the criteria are not met.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder(s) and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service, including verified combat experiences. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The claim for service connection for right eye disability claimed as optic neuritis is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in Newark, New Jersey.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need to review all new evidence, including a February 2016 VA PTSD examination.