PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for headaches and a higher evaluation for PTSD. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as there were no pending requests for service connection prior to February 13, 2004, when the Veteran filed his claim. The claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD is being remanded.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking to substitute in the appeal for his service connection claims for PTSD, bladder cancer, and a nerves disorder. The case is being remanded for further development on substitution eligibility.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than a personality disorder, related to his military service. The evidence of record does not support a finding of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder being incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 12, 2004, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board granted an effective date of November 24, 1999 for a 50 percent disability evaluation for PTSD. The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, neurological disabilities of the hands and lower extremities, and heart disability were all found to be supported by evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on his combat experience in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of Vietnam service and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need for further examination to determine her need for nursing care and aid and attendance.

The Board found that there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the Veteran's records and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD and Meniere's disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including depressive disorder and PTSD, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of an inservice stressor or any other basis for granting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and hard palate, which is presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The claim for accrued benefits purposes remains pending as a remand is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new examination to consider the current diagnosis of PTSD and the verification of alleged stressors.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 100% schedular rating for PTSD, but the Board finds that such an earlier effective date is not warranted due to the finality of the March 2008 decision denying an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected PTSD was denied as the symptoms since November 7, 1996, were indicative of no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and flexibility.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service in Desert Storm.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and updating records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU is currently pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.