PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service, specifically handling dead bodies and firing weapons during service in Somalia. The claim for service connection for any other psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are found to be related to his in-service experiences, and the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD have been granted.,Service connection has been established for tinnitus, with a determination that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The appeal for a TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and verifying an in-service stressor. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his periods of active service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve service records and updated VA treatment records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed stressor events.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the entire period on appeal, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the state employment agency and SSA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether depressive disorder is related to service, and further medical opinion regarding the relationship between sleep apnea and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU prior to December 8, 2001. The effective date of benefits was set at December 8, 2001.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue, sinusitis with blurred vision, and irritable bowel syndrome have all been granted increased ratings.,PTSD remains at the current 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to issues being inextricably intertwined with other claims, including a TDIU claim dependent on the outcome of higher initial ratings for motor neuron disease and PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to April 23, 2010 and increased to 50 percent on or after that date.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for PTSD and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD. The case was also remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and any related residuals.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since December 15, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran met the percentage criteria for TDIU as of this date due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was not productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from April 17, 2013 to December 1, 2016. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depressive disorder, did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability.