PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD as a result of a verified in-service stressor, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disability, arm and wrist disability, neck disability, back disability, leg disability (including varicose veins and blood clots), lung disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disorder), and hip disability. The Board found the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 14, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was insufficient information to corroborate his claimed in-service stressors, and no supporting evidence of an in-service stressor was provided.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from March 13, 2008 to January 14, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD and also denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities from September 27, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, loss of use of penile functionality, cardiac disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and hepatocellular carcinoma due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. The effective date is not specified as the claim was granted based on presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 23, 2010 and in excess of 50 percent from February 23, 2010 to January 30, 2012. The appeal is granted for the period prior to February 23, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to December 17, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is supported by credible evidence of an in-service stressor. The Veteran was previously denied service connection for panic disorder, but his psychiatric diagnoses include depression and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to evaluate his service-connected hepatitis C and PTSD. The TDIU claim may also be affected by these developments.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of his PTSD symptoms and severity during the appeal period. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD did not render him unemployable prior to November 20, 2015. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran has PTSD due to in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether any psychiatric disorders are related to service and whether they are caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from May 15, 2014. The right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss have also been granted service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn all claims on appeal, including the claim for service connection for mental conditions. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals and they are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA medical records. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders (including PTSD) and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating prior to September 23, 2010.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.