PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2010

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is causally related to his military service and grants service connection for PTSD. The other issues are also granted.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the appellant with proper notice and adjudicating the issues of new and material evidence for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been remanded due to scheduling issues. The case will be returned to the Board after a hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss do not render him in need of aid and attendance or housebound status. The Board also finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination and the acquisition of any available VA outpatient records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 70 percent is warranted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since March 1, 2010. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU are met due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has vacated its previous decision denying service connection for PTSD and remanded the case to allow for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to a request for a personal hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 28, 1999. The Board has determined that the current rating of 70 percent is warranted based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his multiple service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, the claim for DIC benefits is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability, PTSD, and type II diabetes mellitus. The Board also denied his claim for an increased rating for right knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from February 2004. The rating reflects symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, startle reaction, impaired impulse control, anxious and depressed mood, occasional suicidal ideations with no plan, difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships with family and friends, and difficulty adapting to workplace stress.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable criteria. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a mental disorder, including depression. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD due to lack of credible in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical development, including a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his psychiatric disability (PTSD) is denied as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.