PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues, and he will be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Cleveland.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding the relationship between sleep apnea and PTSD, as well as a determination of whether the Veteran can maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple physical injuries, preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues include a claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD, a duodenal ulcer, TDIU, and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status.

The Board found that the Veteran's fatal subdural hematoma was not directly related to a disease or injury in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal involves an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD. The RO/AMC needs to review updated VA treatment records, arrange for a psychiatric examination, and consider the issue of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking verification of in-service stressors and obtaining a new VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD during service or due to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The TDIU issue was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from November 28, 2007. The rating was denied as the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found new and material evidence to reopen some of these claims. However, the claims were ultimately denied on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during her active service in Iraq is sufficient to establish a diagnosis of PTSD. The lung disability claim remains pending as there was no medical opinion provided regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as there was no prior claim received within one year of his separation from active duty. The Board finds that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating for PTSD at any time since August 30, 1999.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current psychiatric disorders to his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's temporal lobe epilepsy, finding that it began in service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as her combined disability rating is 80 percent, which does not satisfy the requirement of at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more with additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by chronic sleep disturbance, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, anxiety, depression, social isolation, anger, frustration, irritability, anger outbursts, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, occasional suicidal ideation, crying spells, near-continuous anxiety and depression, occasional auditory and visual hallucinations, and an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating as of June 27, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to June 13, 2008, for PTSD was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, is as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.