PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches, which are claimed as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and PTSD. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if his headaches are related to service or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder under DSM-IV or DSM-5. The examiner must also opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) commenced during or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's period of service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of PTSD should be June 21, 2008.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and a mood disorder, is the result of military sexual trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his PTSD and to issue a Statement of the Case regarding an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination and retrieval of VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal includes issues of increased ratings for hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, and PTSD. The TDIU claim is also pending. These matters are being remanded to allow for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing all these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his unemployability due to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The claims for back and right leg disabilities are pending due to the need for additional examination and opinion. The Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse and anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from September 25, 2016. The Veteran was previously rated as 30 percent for the period prior to this date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, is found to be related to his in-service stressors. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that service connection for PTSD and testicular cancer is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis of these conditions and establishes a link to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective October 20, 2011. The Board has granted a higher rating to 70 percent for the entire appeal period and awarded TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and he is now service-connected for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD and DM have been rated based on their service-connected status, with the TDIU granted prior to April 6, 2015.,PTSD has been rated at 70 percent for the entire period of appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral shoulder disabilities. This includes verifying any claimed stressor events, obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature of his psychiatric conditions, and determining whether his current shoulder disabilities are related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD due to service and there is a causal relationship between his current symptoms and in-service stressors. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and MDD, finding that the Veteran's claim was filed on July 10, 2012, which is when he was granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and determining if he meets the criteria for TDIU.