PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a psychiatric examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders were incurred during or aggravated by his active duty service. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether PTSD is at least as likely as not related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to January 9, 2010. Since then, the rating has been increased to 70 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and he is assigned a 20% rating for his cervical spine disability effective November 29, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for the cervical spine disorder from June 20, 2007 to present is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no competent and credible evidence linking them to his military service.

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

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from August 31, 2005 through April 5, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of attempts to obtain records from Dr. John P. McClain and Dr. Blinder.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted as his current anxiety symptoms are a result of his verified combat stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Headaches as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness, and Chronic Fibromyalgia have been granted. The effective dates are based on the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated, including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding whether a stressor occurred during active duty. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information and authorize VA to obtain relevant records, including from her ex-husband and friend who witnessed changes in her behavior.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with claustrophobia is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence shows that his condition more closely approximates a 50 percent rating due to reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination. The issues of increased PTSD rating and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his active service and whether he meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore, service connection is denied. The Veteran's depressive disorder was also found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his death, and the claim for cause of death is granted.