PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2012

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to his request for withdrawal of these claims prior to a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at the maximum available rating of 100 percent since September 30, 2002.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred during service due to noise exposure. Service connection for PTSD is granted, but the initial rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by sleep impairment, mild short-term memory loss, mildly restricted affect, depression, and anxiety in public situations. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against an increased rating of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. This includes obtaining additional VA treatment records, verifying the in-service stressor, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Halifax Health Medical Center on June 29, 2009 and June 30, 2009 were denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health. VA facilities were located within reasonable distance from his home but he did not attempt to use them.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to cause his death due to congestive heart failure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to metastatic adenocarcinoma, attributing it to a lung source. The Veteran's PTSD was considered presumptively related to his military service but did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the claimed in-service stressors were not credible and did not result in a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD but excluding recurrent major depressive disorder and psychotic disorder not otherwise specified, as well as her claim for a cervical spine disability. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and thus failing to establish a link between his current PTSD symptoms and any in-service events.

The Veteran's PTSD has been shown to be manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to obsessional rituals, depression, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. The criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unavailability of records and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to November 4, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is linked to a sexual assault she experienced during active duty. The evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. However, the appeal regarding increased ratings for gunshot wounds of the chest, left upper and lower extremities, and right upper extremity as well as residuals of a healed fracture of the right ankle has not progressed to a final decision.,The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder claim was withdrawn prior to the Board's consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a current skin disorder related to his in-service rashes, as well as an enlarged prostate gland related to his in-service problems with urination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was changed to October 12, 2007.

The Board granted nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective September 30, 2008. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence in August 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and additional medical records, as well as for further development of the claim.