PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the award of service connection. The Board finds that his disability warrants a higher initial rating of 50 percent, as it more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to July 30, 2010 and in excess of 30 percent from July 30, 2010 through November 2, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service, as his stressors are related to fear of hostile military activity and he has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective September 24, 2008. The claim for a higher rating remains denied as the evidence does not show an increase in symptoms warranting a higher rating within one year prior to the grant of the current rating. Effective September 24, 2008, the Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to verifying stressors and applying new PTSD criteria. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is currently under review.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's death and its connection to his service-connected conditions. The claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and a low back disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claim can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran's PTSD condition will also need to be reassessed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a skin disorder, including soft tissue sarcoma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of alternate diagnoses.

The Veteran's PTSD is primarily productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to intrusive thoughts, chronic sleep impairment, hypervigilance, depressive symptoms, and mild anxiety. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher evaluation of 30 percent for PTSD have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since April 2005, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 15, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify whether the Veteran engaged in combat and if so, which stressors are related. The RO must also obtain VA treatment records and attempt to independently verify any reported non-combat stressors. If combat service is established or a verified non-combat stressor is found, the Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression, are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, including regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and allergies.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appellant contends that her husband's service-connected PTSD caused or contributed to his overall decline in health, including heart problems and cancer.

The Board has determined that the reduction in evaluation from 30 to 20 percent for service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was improper, and denied all other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD and a TDIU were granted, with the effective dates set at December 15, 2008. The Veteran is also entitled to a 100% rating for his service-connected PTSD.