PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, that is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including difficulty sleeping and anxiety, have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has determined a 50% evaluation is appropriate.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current PTSD and MDD are causally linked to his active service, including verified in-service stressors. Therefore, service connection for PTSD with MDD is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, which is consistent with a 30 percent rating. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating.

The Veteran does not have PTSD or a depressive disorder causally related to service, but he does have an anxiety disorder causally related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a grant of service connection for PTSD or a depressive disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an anxiety disorder, is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has service connection for polysubstance abuse secondary to his PTSD. His hepatitis-C and cirrhosis of the liver are also found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected polysubstance abuse disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, right knee disorder (arthritis), prostate condition, and sarcoidosis are related to service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is presumed due to his military service in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. The right knee disorder, prostate condition, and sarcoidosis were not present until after service.

The Board found that the appellant's character and circumstances of his discharge are not a bar to entitlement to VA benefits because he was insane at the time of his unauthorized absence (UA).

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is linked to MST, a personal assault during service.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for left shoulder disorder and low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has PTSD related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for PTSD and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a higher rating for lumbosacral strain prior to June 24, 2016, were also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, resulting in a 70 percent disability rating since the grant of service connection. He is also entitled to a TDIU throughout the claim period.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, as well as a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current level of his PTSD symptoms and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the current records do not provide sufficient information to make a decision on the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder. Therefore, a new VA examination is required.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder due to new evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's compensation benefits were not apportioned to the Appellant and her child, T.S., because the Veteran was not receiving any VA benefits at the time of T.S.'s eligibility for apportionment. The effective date is not applicable as there were no benefits payable.