PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and amputation below the knee, are found to be significant enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD, and thus denied service connection. The Veteran's hypertension was also not granted as the rating assigned is at the minimum level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his PTSD, as the last examination was approximately 3 years ago.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify in-service stressors, and provide a VA examination for his right foot pain and psychiatric disorders. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (low back, knees, hearing loss, and PTSD) preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. The claim for COPD was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and clarify the nature of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 13, 2014. The Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 50 percent is warranted.,Given the current disability rating and the evidence indicating the Veteran may be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected PTSD, TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Veteran's PTSD, right upper extremity painful scar, right upper extremity burn scar, back burn scar, and left upper extremity burn scar have been evaluated based on their respective diagnostic codes. The appeals for increased ratings are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, respiratory disability, eye disability, left-sided nerve disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disabilities. The decision was based on the appellant's National Guard service rather than active duty at Ground Zero.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity. The TDIU claim was also denied as there were no findings indicating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private medical records, as well as service personnel records. The appellant's claims will be readjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disability claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since June 7, 2007. The VA examiners have consistently found that the condition causes occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated again based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA examiner found no current psychiatric diagnosis but noted previous diagnoses of anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD and alcohol use disorder are currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating. The evidence does not show that the symptoms more closely approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current vitiligo and left shin dermatitis were not manifest in service and are unrelated to service.,The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not manifest in service, is unrelated to service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.