PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with adequate notice and to schedule him for another VA examination. The case will be returned to the AMC/RO for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD based on military sexual trauma. The Veteran's lay accounts and corroborated STRs indicate he experienced military sexual assault during service which led to his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the PTSD rating from 100% to 30% was proper, and has also granted a 50% evaluation for PTSD since April 6, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA/SSA examination results.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating prior to July 6, 2009. For the period from July 6, 2009, her symptoms included suicidal ideation, intermittent panic attacks, and difficulty understanding complex commands, which warranted an increased 70% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, and migraine headaches. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, and chronic sleep impairment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the Veteran was exposed to a stressor event in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD prior to December 12, 2009 was granted by the RO. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant impairment, with symptoms including chronic sleep impairment, frequent nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and impaired impulse control. The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD, the highest available under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as they have died.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development of his claims, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent since August 24, 2005. Prior to that date, the rating remained at 50 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right knee, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The other issues related to scars have not met this standard.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as he has a diagnosed condition and there is evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and an increased evaluation for PTSD due to insufficient evidence addressing potential etiology.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension claim was denied because he did not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability due to his nonservice-connected disabilities, despite having multiple service-connected conditions.