PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, effective from September 26, 2012. The earlier effective date of August 20, 2013, grants the Veteran a 50 percent rating for PTSD prior to January 19, 2017 and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to May 28, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to November 8, 2013 and was increased to 70 percent effective from that date.,Since June 1, 2013, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based solely on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-IV criteria and finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder NOS, and dysthymic disorder, are etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 17, 1999 through January 4, 2007.

The Veteran's PTSD disability ratings are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and readjudication due to failure to comply with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD was remanded by the Board. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide due process before adjudicating the case again.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at various levels since the appeal began, but no higher ratings are warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling since March 6, 2015, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his severe social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and found no causal link to service. The left knee disability was also denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to August 28, 2009 was partially granted with a 50 percent rating assigned. The issues of an earlier effective date and a higher rating are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the period on appeal, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it was caused by his combat experience in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature of his current diagnoses and the etiology of those diagnoses. The Veteran has not provided verified in-service stressors supporting a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are found to be due to herbicide agent exposure, specifically Agent Orange. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a generalized anxiety disorder and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and a mood disorder) as well as service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.