PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as to ensure that all relevant records are associated with his claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to a personal assault she experienced during her service in the Navy, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to service and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no legal entitlement to an effective date earlier than February 21, 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and right hand disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew it in writing prior to a decision being issued.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have been found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating from May 30, 2008 to March 25, 2010. The Veteran has also met the criteria for TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's death was caused by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, specifically his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from aspiration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him unemployable, and thus grants a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and conduct a VA examination for his PTSD. The issues of service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board found that there was no evidence of a psychiatric disability in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is not related to her military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the last denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (the occurrence of a stressor during service). The Veteran's fear of hostile military activity in Vietnam is accepted as sufficient proof of such a stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial grant of service connection, and a higher rating is not warranted based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under the criteria for mental disorders. The evidence supports this higher rating based on significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider it.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Veteran's other issues regarding increased ratings and service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted service connection and assigned an initial disability rating of 50 percent, effective September 7, 2006.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board found that the reduction of disability compensation benefits to 10 percent, effective March [redacted], 2006, due to incarceration for a felony conviction was proper.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to determine if he currently has a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service. The case will be remanded for these purposes.