PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of whether he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 based on in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to the lack of a confirmed in-service stressor. The Veteran's alleged stressor, while traumatic, did not occur during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and headaches were both previously denied but reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressors and a need for further examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection of PTSD with depression. Other claims were not resolved in his favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had PTSD related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, finding that the Veteran's in-service stressors are supported by credible supporting evidence and his lay testimony alone may establish their occurrence. The diagnosis of PTSD is established based on current treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and headaches were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder (subclinical PTSD) was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent from January 30, 2009 to June 14, 2011.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service traumatic events and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to service. The Veteran was previously denied service connection due to lack of verified stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including MDD, PTSD, and anxiety disorder), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, colon polyps, bilateral hand disorder (thumb arthritis), CTS of the upper extremities, and right ear hearing loss are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment that more nearly approximates deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders, finding that the Veteran's claims were reopened based on new and material evidence. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying stressors and obtaining VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered after these steps.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a deficiency in the reasoning provided by the VA examiner regarding service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing. Service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus II, and heart disease, as well as due to Agent Orange exposure, remains under consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 11, 2012. The rating is in accordance with the severity of symptoms including impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence), difficulty in understanding complex commands, impairment of short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD with delusional disorder and depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to April 9, 2008, due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran was assigned a permanent and total disability rating for PTSD effective January 20, 2007. The appellant is over the age of 26 as of this date, making her ineligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.