PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and the United States Postal Service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including suicidal ideations, isolation, sleep impairment, depression and anxiety, irritability and anger, and inability to establish effective relationships, have been found to warrant a higher rating of 70 percent. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal involves two distinct periods of service-connected PTSD. For the period from September 9, 2003 to March 18, 2008, he was granted a 70 percent rating. For the subsequent period, he seeks an increased rating higher than 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and determining whether the Veteran's FMLA leave was related to his PTSD. The issue of evaluating PTSD from July 18, 2009 will be considered.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, is rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective September 6, 2006. The Veteran has also been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 6, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service connected as it is related to a verified in-service stressor event, specifically witnessing the death of a fellow soldier during live fire training exercise.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service department or other governmental records possibly corroborating the Veteran's account of her sexual assault during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and whether his condition is related to verified in-service stressors. The claim will be readjudicated based on all additional evidence received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of her PTSD and to determine if she is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities. The claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental hygiene records from service and seeking verification of a claimed in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is also inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for hypertension with CAD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to his noise exposure during active service and the Board has found that the evidence in favor of the claim is at least in equipoise with that against it. The claims for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, is not established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as his claims for increased ratings for knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, PTSD, and mental disorders based on new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,The Veteran testified that he experienced stressors during service including being picked on, pushed, threatened, and intimidated. He also mentioned an altercation with another service member resulting in an Article 15.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active military service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for PTSD. The Board granted service connection for CVA as secondary to diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a ruptured left eardrum, chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), chronic gastrointestinal disorder (including hiatal hernia and GERD), chronic hypertension, and chronic erectile dysfunction. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he has not been diagnosed with PTSD or any other psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and obtaining all relevant VA treatment records. The TDIU rating claim will be deferred until the service connection claim is resolved.