PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and anxiety, is related to his service in Iraq. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether this disability was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on tinnitus, hearing loss, and coronary artery disease was withdrawn. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder effective from May 6, 2011, the date of his claim. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as she had actual knowledge of the August 2007 rating decision and provided a valid address in her October 2010 request to reopen.

The Veteran's appeal for bilateral flatfoot and right ankle arthritis has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, which render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of her psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, prior to January 26, 2005, is dismissed as untimely filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and skin condition are related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 15, 2016. Prior to this date, the rating was increased from 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 20, 2012 for PTSD and a higher evaluation for her service-connected left trochanteric bursitis, left piriformis syndrome, and left sacroiliitis. The claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as there were no unadjudicated or informal claims prior to the March 20, 2012 application to reopen. The increased evaluation claim is remanded due to the passage of time since the last VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and mild neurocognitive disorder are related to his military service. The VA examiner found no specific diagnosis for his stomach disorder but concluded it was less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service. For his migraine headaches, twitching in the neck, and stomach disorder, the Board finds that a new examination is necessary as the current opinion did not address whether these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from February 20, 2009 to January 19, 2011 and 100% thereafter. DEA benefits are granted effective January 19, 2011.

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

For the period of appeal from April 27, 2011 to February 5, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD did not more closely approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of her claims, including her claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2012.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of PTSD is May 13, 2009. Prior to this date, there were no open claims or evidence submitted related to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board found that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.