PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to verify the Veteran's alleged stressful events during his military service in Korea and Vietnam, including incidents involving motor vehicle accidents and combat involvement. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was caused by a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, which the Board found to be substantially contributed to by his service-connected PTSD and secondary alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify in-service stressors and exposure events, including physical and sexual assaults by her ex-husband and his acquaintance, as well as assisting with abortions. The Veteran is also to be examined by a psychiatrist to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to her duties as a medical specialist in an ob-gyn clinic.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The evidence does not show any additional symptoms that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted based on his reported in-service stressors and diagnosed PTSD. Service connection is also granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special home adaptation grant due to his blindness in both eyes or loss of use of both hands.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD is granted as incurred due to non-combat stressors during verified search and rescue operations while serving in the United States Coast Guard, recovering two dead bodies.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent from August 17, 2004 to April 5, 2007.,Since April 6, 2007, the Veteran has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for her PTSD.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD was received by the RO on May 6, 2004. The Board found that this date is the earliest possible effective date as no other informal claims were received between November 1980 and May 6, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia and PTSD are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, as his service-connected conditions (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) were not considered to be principal or contributory causes of his death. The appellant argued that her husband's PTSD contributed to his strokes and heart attacks, but VA medical opinions did not support this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a verified in-service stressor to support a clinical diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the appellant's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that there is no evidence to support the diagnosis and that the current condition does not meet the criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are not service-connected, but her MDD is found to be secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD, based on reopening of the claim due to new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's psychiatric disability claims.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids with an effective date of August 22, 2005. The Veteran's claim for PTSD to include a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding stressors and a VA compensation examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of CUE in the November 1980 rating decision that denied service connection for posttraumatic stress neurosis (claimed as delayed stress neurosis), finding no evidence of clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder was rated at 70 percent effective January 28, 2010. The disability rating is based on the severity of symptoms and occupational/social impairment.