PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to notification requirements for PTSD claims based on in-service personal assault and the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD due to combat exposure and non-combat stressors. Service connection for recurrent peptic ulcer disease was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether his brain tumor qualifies for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted increased ratings, but his hearing loss and tinnitus were reduced to noncompensable levels. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are not addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, PTSD with depression, and tinnitus) do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, including as secondary to a reported in-service head injury. The Veteran's claims were found to lack sufficient evidence to establish a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to more closely approximate a disability picture manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting an initial rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD is dismissed as there are no allegations of error in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims. The Veteran was also denied a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment resulting in reduced reliability and productivity, but without suicidal or homicidal ideation, impaired communication, inappropriate hygiene, illogical speech, spatial disorientation, or an inability to maintain relationships. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lung disability, lupus erythematosus, and psychiatric disorder (PTSD), but denied reopening of the claim for heart condition. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 10%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA hospital records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, a bilateral knee condition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low back pain, and migraine headaches, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that would support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge was not a bar to benefits, and thus granted service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 1, 2009 for additional compensation benefits for a dependent spouse is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide information about his dependents until June 23, 2009, more than three years after he was initially granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed and a new VA examination is required to properly evaluate the Veteran's PTSD. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for another VA PTSD examination to assess his current psychological symptoms and their impact on social and occupational functioning.