PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD due to worsening symptoms since the February 2016 VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD stressor was not credible and denied service connection for PTSD. The acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is also denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal for entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as his PTSD alone precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder effective February 26, 2008 and a rating of 70 percent effective April 15, 2016. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his service during Operation Just Cause in Panama, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service or caused by service, to include as due to military sexual trauma. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and right leg radiculopathy have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records and provide the Veteran with notice regarding unavailability of Federal records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 16, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment due to his PTSD symptoms. For the period prior to March 16, 2015, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of stab wound with exploratory laparotomy remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to June 22, 2009. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there was no CUE in the August 1984 rating decision and that the earliest assignable effective date is January 30, 2008.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, previously evaluated as Anxiety Disorder. The issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to bilateral hearing loss, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including mood disorders and PTSD. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and nonservice-connected pension are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic episodes, are found to be etiologically related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for Parkinson's disease was withdrawn. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened due to new evidence received since the March 1971 rating decision, which relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims of service connection.