PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Hampton, VA. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective November 24, 2008. The Board has also found that the November 1998 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD was in error and granted an earlier effective date of June 15, 1998.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to his service in Iraq, specifically during the Battle of Baghdad. The stressors reported by the Veteran are consistent with fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and are supported by credible evidence. Therefore, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was characterized by symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, avoidance of stimuli related to trauma, anger and irritability, anhedonia, feelings of detachment from others, hopelessness, restricted affect, and passive suicidal ideation. For the initial rating period prior to August 21, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD did not meet criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination. The issue includes verification of claimed stressors during his military service.

The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected PTSD. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and will conduct further development before re-adjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a search of USS San Diego deck logs and an examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's account of exposure to extremely cold temperatures during his service in Korea is credible. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran currently suffers from cold injury residuals causally or etiologically related to his period of active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, but denied the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and records, as well as a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and GERD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent prior to July 31, 2007. The Board granted a higher rating of 70 percent effective July 31, 2007.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed PTSD and bipolar disorder are not related to her active service, as there is no credible evidence of an in-service personal assault. The diagnoses have changed over time, with different VA examiners listing different primary conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Board previously denied increased ratings for PTSD prior to January 8, 2009 and since that date. The Court reversed these decisions, finding the evidence at least in equipoise for a 50% rating before January 8, 2009 and a 70% rating after that date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and no presumption of service connection applies.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant and his authorized representative, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depression is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.