PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military activity during service, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a confirmed in-service stressor and continuity of symptomatology. The other issues are addressed below.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran's PTSD is still under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center records and a psychiatric examination to determine if he has PTSD or other psychiatric conditions due to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the New York, New York, Regional Office.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding his PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, is related to his service in Vietnam. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently meet the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's application for Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance was filed more than two years after he received service connection for PTSD, his only service-connected disability. Therefore, the Veteran is not eligible for this insurance.

The Veteran's PTSD is not productive of total occupational and social impairment, but he was shown to be unemployable as a result of service-connected PTSD for specified periods of time. The Board found that the criteria for entitlement to TDIU were met for the additional period of January 25, 1999 to May 28, 1999 and denied it for other specified periods.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations for his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy. The RO must verify the Veteran's current address and schedule him for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating of 50 percent is warranted based on his occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a more recent VA examination and consideration of his claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed mortar attack stressor in Iraq is related to service and whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including private and VA treatment records, and a new PTSD examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as agitation, social isolation, memory lapses, exaggerated startle response, nightmares, sleep disturbances, passing social ideation, impaired mood, and difficulty maintaining social relationships. However, the Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to lack of suicidal ideation or unprovoked irritability with periods of violence.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.