PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is related to his service-connected diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a left elbow disability.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted since the April 2006 rating decision is not new and material, and thus does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressors and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The claim for secondary service connection based on PTSD was also denied.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), currently rated at 50 percent. The appeal is remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on current symptomatology and medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic back disability and a chronic psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Board found that the July 2004 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in assigning an effective date of May 19, 1993 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The effective date is now set at February 4, 1991.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The case is being remanded to conduct further development and determine if a current acquired psychiatric disability exists and whether it is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development and consideration of his TDIU claim, which is inextricably intertwined with other issues raised in a June 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with secondary depression has been rated at a maximum of 70 percent since July 9, 2009. He was previously granted increased ratings to 50 and 30 percent prior to that date.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing VCAA notice regarding new and material evidence requirements and direct service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, but as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records, the Veteran's claim remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to unresolved questions regarding the verifiability of his claimed in-service stressors. The VA will make efforts to verify these stressors and provide a VA examination if necessary.