PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU claims is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to afford him a VA examination and obtain updated treatment records. The issues on appeal are whether he should receive a higher disability rating for PTSD and if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for a kidney disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or due to herbicide exposure. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, a subdural hematoma due to a probable head trauma resulting from a fall, was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% before December 23, 2010 and increased to 50% from that date. The current rating of 50% is considered appropriate based on the symptoms described.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new psychiatric examination. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in total impairment prior to March 10, 2014 and was therefore not rated at a higher than 70 percent level.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in functional impairment most comparable to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to July 6, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as his symptoms align with the DSM criteria, and his stressors are considered credible based on corroborating evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for this disability. The evidence shows that his PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bipolar disorder and PTSD are related to his service, including traumatic events he experienced during basic training. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on his increased rating claim for right ankle disability and scheduling of a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not related to his service, as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and low back disorder claims are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA examination reports and treatment records. His increased rating claims for PTSD with generalized anxiety and multiple lipomas will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of credible in-service stressor. The anxiety disorder claim is reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist disorder, bilateral hand disorder, tinnitus, and an acquired mental disorder (PTSD). The hearing loss claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The right eye condition claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD warrants a 30 percent initial rating, and his MDD/PTSD warrant a 50 percent initial rating. The criteria for these ratings are met based on the severity of symptoms and impairment caused by the conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a higher evaluation for PTSD are dismissed due to finality of prior decisions.,There is no legal basis for granting earlier effective dates as the November 2005 rating decision, which granted service connection and assigned initial evaluations, is final.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 18, 2005, for service connection of PTSD is denied as there was no formal or informal application filed before that date.