PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors and the Veteran did not serve in combat. The Board found that his statements regarding his stressors were not credible.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The respiratory disorder claims are denied.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder on the basis of new and material evidence. However, since this claim requires further development before being readjudicated on its underlying merits, the Board is remanding the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which reflects total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is considered secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his respiratory disability and PTSD with major depressive disorder. The TDIU claim will also be considered in conjunction with the increased rating claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim, assigning a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The decision concludes that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD approximates the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and dysthymia, has been rated at 30 percent since April 23, 2008. The VA Board has determined that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for this condition, effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to insufficient information provided regarding his claimed stressors and the need for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claim of service connection for colon cancer during a Travel Board hearing. The case is being remanded to consider the issue of service connection for psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to in-service stressors and if his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to exposure to tritonal. The claims will be adjudicated again after these developments.

The Veteran's appeal involves a request for higher initial and staged ratings for PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records, including Vet Center treatment records, and to schedule the Veteran for an additional VA psychiatric examination.

The Board determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from smoke inhalation due to a fire, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to his verified in-service stressors, and thus service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that her stressors were not verified and that she did not engage in combat. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service sexual assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible evidence supporting his reported in-service stressors and current symptoms. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is remanded, as are the hypertension claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at a 50% rating from March 13, 2007 until November 27, 2007 and at a 70% rating as of November 27, 2007. The current evaluation is denied for the period beginning on September 26, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to August 4, 2006 was characterized by reduced reliability and productivity with symptoms such as sleep impairment, anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, some impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, suicidal ideation, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. The evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.