PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to September 24, 2009 and increased to 50 percent from that date. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement regarding the denial of service connection for peripheral neuropathy. The appeal is therefore denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, are currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they only indicate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including back and wrist disabilities, gout, duodenal ulcer, chronic respiratory infections, or bronchitis. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is manifested as a result of his period of active service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, thus the requirements for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder is not related to her military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and the medical evidence does not show a nexus between any current psychiatric symptoms and active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The VA Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD will be reconsidered after these steps.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder, is being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence. The VA examiner must consider the Veteran's reported in-service personal assaults and determine if they are causally related to her current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted as his current diagnosis of PTSD has been linked to a verified in-service stressor by a VA psychiatrist.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further medical examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, headaches, sleeplessness, and chronic fatigue have been granted. The appeals are based on direct evidence of a current disability that is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an error in providing a reasons or bases statement regarding PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the failure of the VA Regional Office (RO) to adequately comply with previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is being returned for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of her delimiting date for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits, finding that she was not eligible for such extension due to the passage of time since her initial eligibility determination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the case as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. Therefore, a schedular rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is not warranted.

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 Veteran's in-service stressors under the new regulations.