PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms cause reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating. During the periods of in-patient treatment for PTSD (January 19, 2011 to February 9, 2011 and July 10, 2012 to August 9, 2012), he was granted a 100% rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a thorough VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and diabetes mellitus II) combine for an 80 percent rating, which meets the threshold requirements for total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder with depressive symptoms and sub-threshold PTSD symptoms. The appeal was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran, which related to his experiences in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and a personality disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examination did not support a diagnosis of PTSD based on combat exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and need for further development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and initial compensable rating for tension headaches are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant an increased rating. The Veteran's urinary tract stone residuals are currently rated at 10 percent and also did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting both upper and lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD. The VA will obtain additional records and conduct further examinations with opinions.,VA will provide an addendum opinion on whether any prior diagnosed peripheral neuropathy was early-onset type (recognized by the VA as etiologically related to herbicide exposure) or if not, is otherwise medically related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant an increased rating. The Veteran's urinary tract stone residuals are currently rated at 10 percent and were also denied as there was no current symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no competent evidence linking any current psychiatric disability to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disorder, as well as assessing the severity of his service-connected sinusitis and migraines.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, as it was a freestanding claim that cannot disturb the finality of the decision which assigned the previous effective date.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and his bilateral shoulder disabilities are considered to be directly related to service. His bilateral knee retropatella pain syndrome is also found to be directly related to service.,Service connection for PTSD, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee retropatella pain syndrome, and right knee retropatella pain syndrome has been granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the issues related to service connection for a bilateral hip condition, low back condition, and an increased evaluation for service-connected residuals of right knee injury with tricompartmental osteoarthritis and scar. The claims are therefore dismissed.