PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 70 percent disabling since March 15, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to July 27, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum opinion from the March 2012 VA examiner to address deficiencies in the examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion regarding the cause of death and for issuance of a statement of the case concerning burial benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service or aggravated by his PTSD, and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, Depressive Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hammer toes, and porokeratoma were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood prior to May 6, 2014. Since then, his PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 50 percent disabling since April 20, 2017. The other conditions have been rated appropriately based on their severity and impact on the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone were not severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to October 10, 2006.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a verified stressor related to his service and therefore, he does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, PTSD, and MDD has been granted. As a result, the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders and sleep disorder, as well as verify his alleged stressors. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided that additional development is required due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the appellant's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that he is not unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder dislocation disability is rated at 40 percent, effective June 11, 2013. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of PTSD. The TDIU claim is also being considered.

The Board found that there is not credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than personality disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10% prior to February 25, 2017. Since then, the evaluation has been increased to 70%. The current rating reflects significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD caused severe symptoms including suicidal and homicidal ideation, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, paranoia, insomnia, irritability, anger outbursts, and avoidance of people. He was granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD from February 24, 2010, to March 22, 2015, and a higher rating thereafter. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating under VA regulations.