PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal has been granted, and he is now receiving a TDIU. The issues of service connection for hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, PTSD, tinnitus, right hand disorder, left shoulder disorder, and skin rash have all been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including potential PTSD stressor development or obtaining an opinion to address the medical matters raised by this appeal. The Veteran is currently incarcerated.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C has been reopened and is being reviewed on the merits.,The skin disorder claim related to Agent Orange exposure remains pending, as new evidence was submitted but does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The psychiatric disorder claim is being addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as a gynecological disorder, including uterine fibroids and hysterectomy. The Veteran's reports of in-service sexual trauma are credible, leading to the diagnosis of PTSD. Her gynecological issues are linked to her service due to exposure to hazardous environmental conditions.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors were consistent with his service record and supported a diagnosis of PTSD. His bilateral hearing loss is also considered to be related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of disability due to PTSD and an updated TDIU evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his claimed stressors and a VA examination. The claim for PTSD is being reviewed, as well as the claim for erectile dysfunction which may be related to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected PTSD on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left knee disability as secondary to right knee disability, and low back disability as secondary to right knee disability due to his character of discharge from service.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED due to the need for additional VA mental health treatment records, specifically from the Huntington VAMC. The case will be returned to the Board after these records are obtained and reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and lay statements, as well as a new VA examination to clarify the nature of her psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, which was initially granted in April 2006. The case has been remanded to address whether there is clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 1997 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses at Mitchell County Hospital in October 2009 meet the criteria for reimbursement due to a service-connected disability, an emergency medical condition, and non-feasibility of VA facilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension (secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disorder), and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated treatment records from SSA and VA Vocational Rehabilitation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including verification of a claimed in-service stressor and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, finding that he is unemployable due to the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not chronic in service and are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical examination and opinion regarding the appellant's claimed PTSD, as well as other acquired psychiatric disabilities. The issue is now pending further development.