PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from his vocational expert and procuring additional VA and private treatment records. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services or the Undersecretary for Benefits for an opinion regarding extraschedular entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported stressors are consistent with his Vietnam service and have established a link between his current PTSD symptoms and these experiences. As such, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxious mood, is at least as likely as not related to his service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Social Anxiety Disorder, related to his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from December 11, 2000. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has been manifested by symptoms more nearly approximating occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the criteria for new and material evidence were met no earlier than June 25, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety neurosis have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from November 20, 2009 to April 28, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 14, 2009 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there were no pending or otherwise unadjudicated claims for PTSD at that time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that it warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to incomplete information from his former employers and missing vocational rehabilitation records. The AOJ will attempt to obtain these records and provide the Veteran with a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a hearing without explanation. A new hearing will be scheduled.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The Board also noted that any new evidence did not relate to the unestablished fact necessary to substantiate a claim to establish service connection for cause of death or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a right calf stab wound with muscle group XI residual scar was denied. The Board granted the Veteran's TDIU claim based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a right thumb disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and provide a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and/or a depressive disorder, due to in-service stressors.