PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD related to his active military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 28, 2001. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and assess his hearing loss and frozen feet.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since August 31, 2006. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is moot as the Veteran now meets the criteria for a 100 percent schedular disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status since June 23, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any disability incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to incomplete development of his military history and lack of medical nexus opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of credible evidence supporting in-service stressors. The other conditions were also denied as there was no confirmed in-service event or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service combat stressors and remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is associated with a verified stressor from his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge due to the Veteran's request. The initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD remains granted, but the appeal is now on hold until further action.

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to a verified stressor involving his participation in the recovery of tanker explosion survivors at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD, which are considered service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent disabling since October 30, 2008. The rating is based on the criteria for a disability picture that includes flattened affect, circumstantial or circumlocutory speech, difficulty understanding complex commands, and impairment of short-term memory.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, verifying an in-service stressor, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination and opinion to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not become manifest in service and is not shown to be related to service. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence is against a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including audiologic and psychiatric evaluations to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. A TDIU evaluation will also be scheduled.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his PTSD on his employment.