PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including examinations to determine the current severity and extent of the Veteran's PTSD and sleep disorder. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a sleep disorder as secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, vertigo, and menstrual abnormalities were denied as no new evidence was provided to support the claims. The effective dates for awards of service connection remain unchanged.

The Board found that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, and alcohol abuse is currently rated at 70 percent disabling prior to May 13, 2014. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 28, 2010. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted and denied the claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The case is now to be readjudicated with a supplemental VA medical opinion addressing whether any current psychiatric disability was aggravated by the service-connected hysterectomy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examination and medical opinions to address the etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The case is being remanded for further development and adjudication of the intertwined claims, including the claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits. The Veteran's previously denied claim to reopen a service connection issue, as well as other service connection and increased rating claims are also on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, based on credible evidence linking these conditions to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) and a new VA examination for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his PTSD and diabetes, as he is capable of substantially gainful employment with some instruction and oversight.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service. The claim for PTSD was not addressed due to the broadening of the issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since April 8, 2010.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating effective from April 8, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a scheduled Board video-conference hearing. Clarification of the Veteran's current address is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by feelings of detachment from others, restricted range of affect, decreased libido, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, intense distress, trouble sleeping, irritability and outbursts of anger, problems concentrating, decreased interest and participation in normal activities, a sense of foreshortened future, periods of total social isolation, suspicion and distrust of others, random weird and violent thoughts, grossly inappropriate behavior, intermittent homelessness, and total occupational and social impairment. The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD since March 15, 2010.

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

The Veteran's recurrent skin lesions and PTSD with depressive disorder NOS have been granted service connection, and the Veteran has also received a 50% disability rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with weight fluctuations is rated at the highest possible level, and his cubital tunnel syndrome and laceration residuals are both rated appropriately based on their current manifestations.