PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has decided that the case needs further development and remands to ensure proper consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional Vet Center treatment records and VA treatment records. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have worsened, including difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, irritability, and marital issues. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating effective December 1, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of a psychosis within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is not shown to result in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. The current rating of 50 percent adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and ADD have been rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects his disability picture.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the May 2016 VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and any relationship to alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent since July 2016, and the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,For TDIU, the Veteran was found to have occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to antisocial personality disorder, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder. His service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder were attributed to these nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 70 percent since April 12, 2011. The symptoms have included deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to August 24, 2007. From that date until November 1, 2016, the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD was increased to 50 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and alcohol dependence, are at least as likely as not related to his active military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The decision grants these claims based on direct evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a reconciling opinion between VA examination reports and private mental health treatment records.

The Board has resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder is granted. The issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and the residuals of a stroke are proximately due to or caused by his hypertension.,PTSD symptoms have resulted in severe anxiety, anger, depression, interrupted sleep, nightmares, isolation, hallucinations, paranoia, hypervigilance, isolated thoughts of self-harm and harm to others, and an inability to establish and maintain effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-V.,The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury and headaches were not addressed due to lack of competent evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy; as well as PTSD, render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.,For the entire appeal period, the criteria for a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand nerve damage was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension are pending.