PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development including obtaining VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and providing a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any psychiatric disability found to be present.

The Veteran has a combined rating of 80% for service-connected disabilities and is employed in suitable employment, thus meeting the criteria to deny his request for VA vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and posttraumatic stress disorder. The VA examiner opined that there were no specific factors suggesting these conditions caused or worsened the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disorder and PTSD have been granted service connection, but the low back disorder is not related to service. The initial rating for PTSD has been increased from 30% to 50%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the claim of service connection, as the Veteran did not have a chronic low back disability during or within one year after service. For PTSD, the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current condition was less likely than not caused by an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, as it was incurred during his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability other than PTSD and denied service connection for depression, concluding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression, finding that the Veteran's stressors are consistent with his service and credible testimony regarding them. The diagnoses of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder have been linked to these stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. Jabbour.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service and thus denied his claim for service connection. The Veteran's sole service-connected disability of pseudofolliculitis barbae with residual scarring did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and possibly an examination.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and for a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have tinnitus, PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety, pinched nerve, ADHD and ODD, or scoliosis during service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD based on verified stressor and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, groin area gunshot wound residuals, and right scapula region gunshot wound residuals were granted. The Veteran is now rated at 30 percent for each of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of service connection for sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective from August 8, 1988.