PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a comprehensive examination to assess the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case due to VCAA notification issues and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal of his increased rating claim for PTSD has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in September 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and found that he did not have tinnitus or PTSD related to military service. The decision also noted that the Veteran was already service-connected for a shell fragment wound in his right leg, which is considered as acoustic trauma.

The Board found no evidence of a visual disability or PTSD during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities and whether they are related to service or secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their request for a hearing and did not contest any errors in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions related to the claimed disabilities during or after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than March 16, 2005 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The issue of Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim. The Board also denied claims for service connection for respiratory problems, sleep disorder, impaired sight, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach condition was reopened and granted. His PTSD is rated at 70% disabling effective September 30, 2003 with TDIU benefits also granted effective that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's idiopathic thrombocytopenia does not warrant a compensable rating. Service connection for traumatic brain injury was denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his headaches to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression, has been reopened. Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's PTSD, effective from March 26, 2008. The previous ratings of 10 percent prior to that date and 30 percent thereafter have been withdrawn.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left ankle disability, enlarged testicles, and an enlarged prostate. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's eligibility for service connection for PTSD and a heart condition, including consideration of secondary service connection due to PTSD. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development of evidence and due process development, including adjudication of a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (T/R) in connection with his PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and thus no effective date prior to March 30, 1994 for service connection of PTSD is granted.