PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as cognitive disorder unspecified, likely major neurocognitive disorder, adjustment disorder, and anxiety disorder with PTSD features, is a result of service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 90%, meeting the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no credible supporting evidence to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not etiologically related to service and did not manifest within a year of separation, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus, type II is not related to service and denied her claim. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim was remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD and PTSD, are related to his reported in-service stressors/military service and/or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for further development. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure in service and grants this claim. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus, which is a requirement for diagnosing PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since February 28, 2013. The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from that date.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 2014, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his PTSD symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA mental health examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal claim or receipt of a formal claim before August 11, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral interstitial fibrosis and PTSD, did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 6, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment-like disorder (claimed as PTSD) was granted a 70 percent rating effective April 13, 2016. The condition is now recharacterized as PTSD with alcohol and stimulant use disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to higher initial disability ratings for PTSD and an initial, compensable disability rating for umbilical hernia remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD remains in appellate status due to a remand by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case is now pending again and requires further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records from Dr. C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, was manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to December 4, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 50 percent since December 31, 2008. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 70 percent effective from May 10, 2010.