PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD was granted, and he is currently assigned a 50 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD based on in-service stressors is denied. The VA examiner found no verified in-service stressor and concluded the diagnosis of PTSD was not credible. Service connection for a personality disorder is also denied as there is no evidence of such condition within a reasonable period prior to the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings of his posttraumatic stress disorder and lumbar strain, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings during the periods in question.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including verification of periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service. An additional VA mental health examination is also needed to determine when any acquired psychiatric disorder(s) manifested in service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, complete a VA Form 21-8940, and conduct further examinations. The Veteran must also provide any outstanding relevant treatment records from non-VA sources.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board denied a rating in excess of this level. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD and its impact on her employability, as well as to address any mental health disorders that may be present.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea and his active duty service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, and the Board finds that there is a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor.,The acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and already service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, to include insomnia and major depressive disorder, will be addressed separately.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 13, 2009. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms such as flattened affect, chronic sleep impairment, and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective September 5, 2008. A TDIU was granted effective from July 31, 2006 through September 4, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted from July 1, 1991. The criteria for an extraschedular TDIU have been met due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and partial complex seizure disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent since January 26, 2016. For the period from June 26, 2006 until January 26, 2016, he was granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issue remains unresolved as to whether he should be granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a diagnosis of PTSD related to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a skin disability, PTSD, lung disorder (claimed as silicosis), and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.,VA will determine whether the Veteran's current diagnoses of skin disorders, PTSD, lung disorder, and sleep apnea are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals seeking to reopen claims for service connection for indigestion, asthma, and gall bladder disease have been withdrawn. The July 1999 rating decision is final as it denied service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of legs, residuals of a left toe injury, indigestion, PTSD, vascular disease of the left leg, hypertension, and IBS due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were related to his military service. The Veteran's appeals have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received for any of these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by clinical signs and symptoms including anxiety, panic attacks more than once a week, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances. The May 2012 VA examiner attributed the Veteran's PTSD-related occupational and social impairment to mild or transient symptoms which decreased work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks during periods of significant stress.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral bone spurs has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran currently has an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, which is related to his service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as new and material evidence has been received showing a possible relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected conditions and the etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder.