PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, based on in-service personal assault/military sexual trauma. The Veteran's service records and other relevant evidence will be reviewed for this purpose.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression/panic disorder. The evidence now supports a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a jaw disorder were denied, while the claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was also denied. The Board found no evidence of PTSD meeting DSM-IV criteria.

The Veteran's spouse is appealing for an apportionment of the Veteran's disability compensation benefits. The appeal has been remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is as likely as not associated with his documented in-service personal assault, and grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to comply with previous remand orders and potential application of new regulations regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with a 50 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was not found to warrant a disability rating greater than 30 percent prior to June 30, 2003. The Board also denied the claim for TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Depression, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The decision also noted that the Veteran had a history of alcohol abuse prior to service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in considerable industrial impairment, considerable impairment in the ability to establish or maintain effective relationships and occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD prior to March 31, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressors, while potentially traumatic, have not been verified. As a result, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and duodenal ulcer do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective as of April 20, 2011. Prior to that date, the rating remained at 30 percent.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was found to have onset more than two decades after service and is not related to his active duty service or a service connected disability. Service connection for PTSD has been granted, with an initial rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding a reported truck accident and deaths of two Marines in June 1980. A VA examination will be scheduled, and additional inquiries will be made to NCIS, Camp Pendleton Provost Marshall, MCASC, and JSRRC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA clinician's opinion on his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues are about service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination and the need for further medical evaluation. The Board will also consider whether any other psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault and grants service connection for this condition.