PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran has been diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the Board finds that this condition is related to his active military service, thus granting service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied, as the evidence did not support a finding of chronicity or aggravation in service. The lung disability (asbestosis) claim was also denied due to lack of objective medical evidence during the pendency of this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with chest pain and insomnia, finding that the Veteran's MOS as a combat engineer in Southwest Asia supports his claim of exposure to hostile military activity. The Veteran is now entitled to an initial rating for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and related conditions (anxiety, depression, insomnia) as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on in-service stressors involving witnessing hostile small arms fire during Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, tinnitus, and residuals of traumatic brain injury have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of updated evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the record to address his claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD and assigned an effective date of November 24, 2008.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, bipolar manic depression, and PTSD. The RO's previous decisions denying these claims are final.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claims for service connection. The issues of reopening claims for right ankle and right shoulder disabilities were also addressed, but as no new and material evidence was received, those claims were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which represents the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Veteran's condition manifests occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 10, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms have significantly worsened and now meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating throughout the period of this claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the Veteran's claimed stressors are not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and depression as secondary to a service-connected disability were denied due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors and the failure to establish a direct link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the appellant's complete Mayo Clinic medical treatment records, including his psychiatric records from 1966 to August 2000 and April 2006. The case is then remanded for a new VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability, such as PTSD or major depressive disorder, was caused by the appellant's service.