PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 70 percent rating effective October 15, 2013. The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. However, after a thorough review of the evidence and examination findings, it was determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for a reduction of his PTSD rating from 50% to 30% was denied.,His claim for an increased rating for PTSD, initially at 50%, was partially granted with a 50% rating effective March 18, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, OCD, and bipolar disorder, are presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation during service for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent effective March 10, 2016. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal involves three issues: an initial increased rating for PTSD, an initial compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, or PTSD, that is etiologically related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for PTSD was granted, with the effective date set at February 16, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including PTSD and residuals of a fistulotomy. The Board found that the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD were not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities and whether any such diagnosed disorder is caused or aggravated by one or more of the Veteran's reported traumatic events or any other aspect of active or National Guard service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service and/or secondary to service-connected disability. The AOJ must also verify the alleged stressor account and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

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

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his symptoms are better explained by his diagnosed schizoaffective disorder, depressed type. As such, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to warrant a 50 percent disability rating prior to August 4, 2011. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted entitlement to TDIU. The claim for an extraschedular rating for PTSD was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenal ulcer disease with chronic duodenitis on an extraschedular basis, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between the Veteran's depression and his military service.