PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on credible evidence of an in-service stressor and a current diagnosis. For his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if there is a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right and left hands, as well as reopened the previously denied claim for a psychiatric disorder (now reopened to include PTSD and depressive disorder). The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered direct service connection cases.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is rated at 20 percent effective from June 17, 2009. The rating reflects the limitation of motion and pain in the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing at the appropriate Regional Office (RO). The issues are related to reopening service connection claims and establishing eligibility for treatment.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD from May 2005 to August 2008 most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, reflecting difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his in-service combat service aboard U.S.S. PIVOT, which supports granting service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted service connection. The low back disability is rated at 40 percent disabling effective January 6, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depression and Alcohol Abuse is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 11, 2010. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms since that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is not manifested by symptoms causing total occupational and social impairment, thus the criteria for an initial rating higher than 70 percent are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional information to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor. The appeal will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, during service or within one year of discharge. The examiner will also need to assess whether this condition was a contributory cause of his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for service connection for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 2007 rating decision that granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and depression, was denied. The Board found that the reported stressors were not verified and thus could not be used to establish service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right biceps and for chronic acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depression) were denied. The claim for service connection for flat feet was also denied. New evidence submitted since the last denial does not meet the criteria for reopening any of these claims.