PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and depression, but finds that new evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or link to service. The claim for depression is also denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD. The Board has determined that the current evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD, but finds potential relationships between military service and other psychiatric disorders such as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is causally related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD as a result of his in-service combat stressors and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further VA action due to varying assessments of the Veteran's PTSD disability and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied because the claimed stressors, including sexual assault allegations, were not verified and there is no evidence of combat participation. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on a non-combat related in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to search for K.D.'s service personnel records, which may have corroborated the Veteran's statement of being assaulted in service. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Marine Corps records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD for service connection purposes, and the Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for this complex disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 80 percent combined, meeting the minimum schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for another VA psychiatric examination to determine if his PTSD meets criteria for a higher rating, and whether he has depression or anxiety disorder as part of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection and for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his disabilities did not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his bowel, bladder, nerve damage, spinal cord damage, hip, knee, erectile dysfunction, immunity, and spleen disorders are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 2, 1986, for the award of service connection and a 70 percent initial rating for PTSD was granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 2, 1986, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's stressor of experiencing a rocket and mortar attack in Vietnam has been corroborated, allowing for service connection for PTSD. The claim for hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis. The issue of psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 26, 2005. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying in-service stressors and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service.