PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran is unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence regarding whether he can work solely due to these conditions. As such, TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on credible evidence of an in-service personal assault. The other claims for service connection are denied as there is no current diagnosis or supporting evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen and service connection for PTSD, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors. The Veteran was exposed to combat situations during his Vietnam service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. However, the evidence does not support granting this reopened claim on the merits. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is not related to active service. There is no competent evidence showing that the Veteran currently experiences a skin cancer due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has PTSD related to service and whether he currently suffers from hepatitis B. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional information from the Veteran regarding her in-service sexual assault and providing an appropriate VA examination to assess any current psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, both for accrued benefits purposes. The evidence did not meet the criteria for either claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back disorder are granted service connection as they are presumed to have been incurred due to his military service, specifically his deployment in Afghanistan. The right elbow, bilateral hands, and bilateral feet disorders do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is productive of a depressed mood, anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, hyperarousal, difficulty sleeping, reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in moderate social impairment. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial rating of 50 percent have been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim is now pending for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are currently under review.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining more recent medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his PTSD. The claim for individual unemployability will also be addressed as part of the increase in rating process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his employment situation related to PTSD. The claim will not be considered based on clear and unmistakable error as it stems from the July 2008 rating decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but denied it on the merits. The claim for DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that the Veteran's disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, lumbar spine injury, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD medications), and traumatic brain injury, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of this decision is not specified.