PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examination will assess whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran was deployed to Iraq and whether her current spine condition is related to service. The claims for PTSD will be remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to determine the cause of his brain atrophy and the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus do not meet the threshold level of severity for a TDIU as his combined rating is less than 70%.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment for the period from November 2, 1998 to April 24, 2006, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development due to incomplete records and potential SSA records. The TDIU claim is also deferred as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and implementing the Board's March 2011 award of a 50 percent initial rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, cardiovascular disabilities, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The seizure disorder was previously rated at 20 percent but is now rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and tinea pedis. The Board confirmed the 30 percent evaluation for PTSD from June 6, 2000 to January 20, 2001, granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD from January 26, 2001 to October 23, 2002, and again granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD from February 1, 2003 to June 28, 2004. The case was remanded multiple times due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and PTSD were rated at 50 percent from December 12, 1975 to May 4, 1997.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran already has a high evaluation for his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to have been incurred during service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records, medical treatment records, and a specific determination of exposure to hostile military or terrorist activity. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered under all theories of service connection (direct, presumptive, aggravation, and secondary).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is not considered severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran does not have PTSD as a result of military service and there is no credible evidence linking his current symptoms to any in-service stressor. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD caused total occupational and social impairment with significant symptoms including hallucinations, memory loss, irritability, sleep impairment, nightmares, suspiciousness, problems concentrating, chronic depression, and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD from March 11, 2004 to December 7, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the RO has not provided a higher evaluation for tinnitus and has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, left foot disability, and PTSD.

The Board finds that further development is required to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including VA examinations and additional medical records. The case is being remanded to comply with these requirements.