PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of a claimed stressor and obtaining Commendation Medal Certificates. The issues include service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted, as he provided sufficient evidence to establish the occurrence of his claimed stressors and meet all other criteria for service connection. The peripheral neuropathy claim is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis and link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder was also denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to inadequate evidence of record, including a need for new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from January 22, 2011. The Board has granted a higher initial rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's alcoholism is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration due to total occupational and social impairment caused by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation from January 18, 2011 forward.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was pending at the time of his death, but he did not have any other claims pending. The Board finds that the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits based on this pending claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of the recently amended regulations regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be processed again after the rescheduled hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disability and a determination on service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and an opinion regarding the permanence of his total disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination to assess his current disability picture.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, and intrusive thoughts. The disability does not result in occupational or social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. Additionally, the Veteran's SSA records and VA treatment records from Panama City Beach VA clinic are needed for proper adjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 23, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD.