PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and thus eligible for service connection. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's account of the grenade simulator incident was not credible and did not have onset during his active service in the United States military, thus denying his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral elbow arthritis, a low back condition, and a left knee condition. However, these claims are being REMANDED to further develop the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is caused by his service in Vietnam, and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional ship logs for the USS Rainier, which may help verify the Veteran's claimed stressors. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an autopsy report and medical records. The Veteran's cause of death is being considered as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a diagnosis of PTSD linked to in-service stressor events.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection and rated at 50% from November 2, 2005 to January 12, 2010.,For the period from January 12, 2010, a higher rating of 70% for PTSD was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of secondary service connection will also be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The VA examiner found that the Veteran has occasional depression, sleep impairment including nightmares, difficulty concentrating, some irritability and anger issues, and hypervigilance, which does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is manifested by symptoms such as depression, sleep disturbance, nightmares, irritability, lack of motivation, and social isolation. This results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but does not cause total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied as he did not provide sufficient information to substantiate his claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a new examination.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder and PTSD have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death due to gunshot wounds. The examiner could not conclude without undue speculation that PTSD caused the death or materially contributed to it.

The evidence supports the diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV, and links it to a claimed in-service stressor. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are therefore service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based on credible evidence of in-service assault and current symptoms consistent with PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The low back disorder was also not related to service.