PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a comprehensive examination to determine if his service-connected conditions preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD and has determined that a scar on the back/shoulder as a residual of a gunshot wound is due to military service. Further development will be undertaken before addressing the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depression, as it is linked to military service.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability. The claim is therefore reopened.,Service connection is granted for a back disability as it was incurred in military service.,The Veteran's lung disability claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this disability. The symptoms are severe enough to meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating but do not warrant an even higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a sleep disorder, and increased rating for sinusitis. The decision is final as it was not appealed to the VA Appeals Committee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the minimum percentage requirements for assignment of a TDIU rating and are reasonably shown to result in his inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's major depression and PTSD are currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The claim for increased ratings for both conditions has been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective from October 8, 1996. The Board found that the Veteran is demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder with PTSD features, has been rated at 70 percent since January 24, 2011. The TDIU benefit was also granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including consideration of new VA Medical Center records. The Veteran will be given the opportunity to respond and for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) to be issued.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects his current level of disability. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection for hypertension prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and left shoulder disability were denied by the Board, with a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD being denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder and its effect on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claim will be adjudicated again after this development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and chronic headaches do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to cardiovascular or lung disorder, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder), and a disability of the female reproductive system. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional development regarding the stressor allegations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is now subject to further development on its merits.