PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and stressor verification.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, specifically the fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The current opinions from private therapists are not sufficient due to lack of qualifications.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a TDIU effective January 2, 2012.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent evaluation for his PTSD with depressive disorder effective July 13, 2012. He is also entitled to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder NOS, mood disorder NOS, depressive disorder NOS, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since May 18, 2010 and at 30 percent since then. His bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and Vet Center treatment records, employment information from former employers, and any other relevant medical records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,Service connection has not been established for a left hand condition, bilateral upper extremities condition, or an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has expanded and recharacterized the issue as entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective bipolar manic disorder, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The claim is being remanded due to failure of the Appellant to appear for a VA examination and incomplete private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibrosis with a restrictive breathing pattern is granted. His PTSD claim for an initial rating higher than 70 percent is denied, and he is granted a TDIU effective from May 16, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 13, 2012 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for PTSD was granted. The current effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but not at a level warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a compensable rating of 20% for hemorrhoids, effective September 22, 2016. The Veteran's in-service stressor is established as the death of his son, which led to PTSD. Hemorrhoids are also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation higher than 30 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient reasons and bases provided by the Board in its previous decisions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and PTSD have been rated based on their current manifestations. The claim for tinea pedis is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7813-7806. For PTSD, the initial ratings of 50% from March 23, 2009, and 70% from July 6, 2017, are maintained as they meet the criteria for a higher rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and TDIU, but denied his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to military service or aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all pending issues, including PTSD and neck condition ratings, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and for a VA examination to assess his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 2014, and he is seeking a higher rating. His bilateral hearing loss remains at zero percent.

The Veteran's appeal involves a rating for her left wrist condition and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, including private treatment records and SSI disability benefits file. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of her left wrist condition and determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.