PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and CAD, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with a history of adjustment disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to April 27, 1998 due to mild impairment in social and industrial functioning.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition that meets the criteria for PTSD. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his mental health conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's reported stressors are related to his fear of hostile military activity and whether he meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD. The case will be remanded for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated to consider whether a higher rating is warranted on the basis of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date remains September 22, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to attend his scheduled RO hearing, and requests a rescheduling of the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with a major depressive disorder, representing a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently carry a primary diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 50 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his PTSD with depression has been remanded due to outstanding VA examination reports. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and a drug and alcohol abuse disability as secondary to PTSD are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a hearing officer's retirement and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The claim will be returned to the RO after scheduling the hearing.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for PTSD on an extraschedular basis and entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depressive Disorder, is related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, depression and anxiety, as well as secondary service connection for alcohol abuse (as a result of PTSD). The Veteran's current diagnoses are based on in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to April 8, 2011. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his cause of death, which includes sepsis, pneumonia, and coronary artery disease (CAD).