PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD.,Service connection was also denied for hepatitis C and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran is to be scheduled for a VA mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with a statement of the case on the claim for service connection for hepatitis A and B.

The Board denied the application to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or other acquired psychiatric disorders. The evidence submitted since April 2003 did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are being remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from October 2004.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability and for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD due to incomplete examination reports and conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent since March 13, 2009. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any period.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current PTSD is related to active service, as evidenced by his in-service stressors and post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying his Social Security Administration disability benefits application. The RO must also determine the nature of any mood and depressive disorders and whether they are related to PTSD or fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a hearing before a Veterans' Law Judge via videoconference at the local RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination to determine the adequacy of his stressor allegations and whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to his active service. The examination must assess if PTSD meets the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis and whether it is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service stressor, such as fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. For any other acquired psychiatric disorder found, the examiner must determine if it began during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and determine if they are related to service. The issues include service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in difficulty establishing and maintaining effective relationships. The Board found a disability rating of 50 percent but no greater is warranted for PTSD from March 2007 to the present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for further development of the record, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and Major Depression, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current conditions and his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The case will be reviewed by the RO after this additional development.