PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for depression and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected depression, effective from April 26, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and need for aid and attendance due to service-connected conditions. The case must be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective February 25, 2008. The Board finds that the criteria for a 100% schedular rating have been met.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining employment records and treatment records related to his PTSD. The agency of original jurisdiction should also consider whether the criteria for submission for extra-schedular consideration have been met at any time during the appeal.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic nosebleeds and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a valid claim at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and did not address the claim for Somatoform Pain Disorder. The decision is mixed as it granted part of the appeal but denied another.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there is no credible supporting evidence of any claimed in-service stressors. As a result, service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg and neck shrapnel wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service combat or injury.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found not to warrant a higher disability rating from November 28, 2001 to July 2, 2008. From July 3, 2008 to the present, his PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to verifying a claimed stressor and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and a need for further examination to determine if he has PTSD related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD with depression is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD that is based on full consideration of the applicable diagnostic criteria, and therefore, his claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability. The Veteran also has a separate diagnosis of major depressive disorder, which does not affect his overall disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being REMANDED. His TDIU claim prior to November 9, 2004, is granted.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor for PTSD and to obtain additional VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with VCAA-compliant notice, and his response will determine whether he wishes to perfect an appeal of diabetes and hypertension claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and a link between current symptoms and those events.