PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as due to personal assault/military sexual trauma, and thus grants this claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is related to his active service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% based on limitation of motion, but no higher. Separate ratings have been granted for instability and removal of the semilunar cartilage.,Service connection has been established for PTSD and depression with an effective date set at February 18, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as the service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PPD converter, sleep disorder (now claimed as sleep apnea), PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to incomplete records, including a lack of supplemental statement of the case (SSOC). The Veteran's claims are related to service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's kidney disability claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis.,The criteria for an earlier effective date than August 12, 2015, for the PTSD evaluation are not met due to lack of evidence of increased severity within one year prior.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to work prior to June 10, 2014. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 20, 2011, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with Major Depressive Disorder, alcohol abuse, and cannabis abuse was denied as there were no formal or informal claims received before this date.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, leading to a rating of 70 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to May 20, 2015 caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. After May 20, 2015, the Veteran experienced reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as hopelessness, uselessness, depressed mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service, or if it is aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to February 1, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including a copy of his VA PTSD examination report and any relevant VA treatment records. The Social Security Administration must also be contacted to obtain pertinent disability benefit records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, finding that it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective March 2, 2012. The Board finds that the Veteran should be rescheduled for a new VA examination due to his failure to attend an August 2016 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and Anxiety Disorder) is denied. The effective date remains September 3, 2010, as the earliest possible date for which service connection may be awarded. His current disability rating of 70% for PTSD and Anxiety Disorder is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD claim, specifically a lack of confirmation of an in-service stressor and evaluation of the criteria for diagnosing PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since January 4, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disability due to insufficient evidence. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.