PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and the Veteran did not engage in combat.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a verified in-service stressor event of physical and/or sexual assault during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pain will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted with a 50% evaluation. Service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea are also granted, while service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a social and industrial survey.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is credible evidence corroborating the Veteran's in-service sexual trauma and abuse, supporting a diagnosis of PTSD. As such, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected as it was caused by an in-service personal assault, and there is new evidence that supports the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective date were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. Jabbour.

The Veteran has a combined disability rating of 70 percent with one disability rated at least 40 percent disabling. However, he is employed as a full-time pool maintenance technician and misses approximately three weeks of work per year due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and all of his psychiatric symptoms are attributed to the service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's hepatitis is considered resolved with no ongoing active infection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development of the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on his employability given his service-connected disabilities and level of education.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since February 1998, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records. The case will be reviewed after these are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, arthritis of the right shoulder and cervical spine, as well as a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military experiences in Vietnam. The Veteran was exposed to traumatic events during service which led to PTSD.

The Veteran's cause of death, a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), is not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The appellant was granted TDIU benefits for accrued purposes based on her husband's pending claim at the time of his death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.