PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service exposure or a link to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating.

The Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, as a result of service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the probable etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bipolar disorder and whether it is related to service. The Veteran will also be provided with another opportunity to respond before the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on a verified in-service stressor. Service connection for hypertension is denied as it is not presumed due to herbicide exposure and there is no evidence of record linking the condition to his military service or diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current evidence to support the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his mental health conditions. The TDIU claim will also be considered as part of the PTSD rating issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to a personal assault during his military service, and thus grants the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD and to reopen his claim of service connection for a neck disability. The appeal regarding service connection for a back disability is pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied as the most recent claim to reopen was received on October 12, 2006. The RO has assigned a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD effective from October 12, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new VA psychiatric examination due to his recent move.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, acid reflux, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are pending.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for left eye disability due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for PTSD, as it requires further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible evaluation of 100 percent, and as such, his claim for TDIU is precluded. The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in August 2009, with a noncompensable rating assigned from September 25, 2008. The RO later increased the rating to 10 percent effective October 12, 2011.,For PTSD, the Veteran's initial claim for service connection was granted in December 2008 with a 30 percent rating assigned from August 19, 2008. The RO later increased the rating to 50 percent effective October 12, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his fear of hostile military activity during service in Thailand. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus as it is likely attributable to events during active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted effective August 16, 1996. From that date until May 3, 2004, he received a 70% disability rating for his PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of cold injury to the upper and lower extremities due to incomplete or inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to active service or exposure to ionizing radiation.