PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD should be remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and further development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of frostbite, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the PTSD claim and that there was no competent evidence linking the claimed conditions to active military service.

PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

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

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

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, to his military service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for presbyopia was denied. The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), tinnitus, residuals of a left foot injury, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and a condition of the eyes (other than presbyopia) are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The Veteran must provide information about all treatment providers who have treated him for PTSD, specifically the Kansas City VAMC and the Paola VAMC.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to warrant a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, and the evidence does not show that his condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing treatment records. The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of a higher rating for PTSD and addressing the issue of TDIU. The Veteran's claim is currently pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, but rather to his intoxication while driving. The case is being remanded for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's alcohol consumption was self-medication related to PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are found to be related to his service, with the latter being secondary to the former.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his PTSD.

The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has requested additional development to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and obtain any outstanding medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, but the evidence does not show that it meets or approximates the criteria for a higher evaluation.