PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension is not presumed due to military service or Agent Orange exposure, but it may be related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's initial schedular rating for chronic sinusitis remains at 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis or near constant sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that there was no pending claim prior to October 18, 2007.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. The Board finds it necessary to remand the case due to the need for an examination and additional development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression is related to his service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed due to withdrawal. The claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU was granted, with the effective date set at October 15, 1993, when he filed his original claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's case is being remanded to allow him to participate in a Board hearing before a Member of the Board. The appeal involves service connection for COPD, which may be secondary or aggravated by diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and employment background, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of October 30, 1996 for the assignment of a 100 percent disability evaluation for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed to his death due to a cerebrovascular accident, which in turn caused his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted and VA burial benefits at the service-connected rate are warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and consideration of whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, as well as application of new regulations regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the likelihood of the Veteran's personal assault and its relationship to her psychiatric conditions. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable evaluation, and thus his claims are denied.