PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to verify stressors and provide a VA examination for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms including suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, speech intermittently illogical, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively. The Veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates a 70 percent rating from March 23, 2011 to February 23, 2012.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and found new and material evidence. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for this condition as it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,The Veteran's headaches, a residual of his TBI, are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in social and occupational impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent initial rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, military personnel records, and corroborating the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further verification of a claimed stressor and additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating assigned for the grant of service connection for PTSD is timely. For the entire period under review, the criteria for a disability rating of 50 percent, and not higher, for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to a personal assault that occurred during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD with alcohol dependence, and peripheral vascular disease, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be granted due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibrocystic breast disease, a back disorder, pregnancy problems, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions. The Board also found that her statements regarding in-service events are not credible.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his death. Effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a residual scar are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be a result of his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and verification of in-service stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder and PTSD are related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides and/or chemicals. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since September 28, 2009 and is currently granted. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability, Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder, is found to have onset during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran's in-service stressors are related to his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding the evaluation of PTSD prior to August 30, 2013 and entitlement to a TDIU.