PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a new VA psychiatric examination, and determine the Veteran's eligibility for TDIU based on his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine if current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied as the rating schedule is adequate to evaluate these disabilities, and there are no related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 9, 2008 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran originally filed a claim in September 2005 which was denied and became final. He did not file to reopen his claim prior to June 9, 2008 when he requested to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 3, 2005. The VA examiner found that the symptoms of his PTSD have resulted in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since June 15, 2009, due to very frequent and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely substantive appeal within the required time frame. The issues of service connection for left knee disorder, hypertension, and PTSD were decided on their merits based on the evidence of record at that time. Initial ratings for low back disability and cervical spine disability were also addressed but are not relevant to this decision.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed and will be obtained. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU per 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his claim of entitlement to a TDIU is submitted to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to marked interference with employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as he did not meet the requirements for a TDIU prior to May 24, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with a 10% rating for each knee. The claim of entitlement to higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea versicolor, respiratory disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar affective disorder are causally related to his active duty service, leading the Board to grant service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and attributing his current PTSD to post-service traumatic occupational experiences.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain an injury of his head or neck during active service, and arthritis of the cervical spine was not manifest within one year of separation from active duty. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a head injury and neck disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need to verify a specific incident during his service.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been productive of total social and industrial impairment at any time during the appeal period, warranting a rating no higher than 70 percent.