PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that the application to reopen his claim was not received until May 2, 2005.

The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for the service-connected psychiatric disability effective from April 16, 2008. The appellant's claim for an increased evaluation prior to that date remains pending.

The Veteran's combined disability rating meets the threshold for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The claim for residuals of a CVA is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from a Greenville OPTC and providing the Veteran with another opportunity to provide information and/or evidence pertinent to his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences and that credible evidence supports the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied, and his PTSD rating request is pending. The Veteran has been rated at 50% for PTSD since April 15, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected conditions, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance, as well as his requests for increased ratings for PTSD. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The claims will be adjudicated again after this development.

The Board found that the RO's May 1, 2003 rating decision did not commit clear and unmistakable error in failing to adjudicate a claim for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) by reason of being housebound. The Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for this benefit based on his disability evaluations.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he currently has any psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depression, that are related to his period of service.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression and eating disorder meets the percentage requirements for a schedular award of a TDIU prior to June 8, 2006. However, since June 8, 2006, this disability has presented her from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the claimed stressors are consistent with his service.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational or social impairment. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinea cruris do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and peripheral vascular disease were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or illness that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for degenerative joint disease of the feet, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), PTSD, and depression were denied as there is no current diagnosis or verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricability of issues related to his service-connected PTSD and TDIU claim. The initial disability rating for PTSD must be resolved prior to further appellate action on the pending appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been expanded to include all acquired psychiatric disorders. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and notification.