PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA records, scheduling a VA examination, and issuing a statement of the case on his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also raised.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed in-service personal assault stressor has not been corroborated and there is no credible evidence of a current disability, a link between her service and any diagnosed condition, or a nexus between her claimed in-service stressor and any current acquired psychiatric disorder. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been shown to result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including disturbance of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Board grants his appeal for a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since June 14, 2010. The disability is characterized by moderate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. K.M.G., D.O. and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether service-connected PTSD significantly contributed to or hastened the Veteran's heart condition that caused his death.

The Board has combined the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Recurrent Depressive Disorder into a single issue. The appeal is granted as the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to January 5, 2012, most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. Since then, the Veteran has continued to experience moderate symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of June 25, 1981. The earlier effective date is based on the receipt of a stressor statement from the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol dependence. The Veteran's back disability claim is not addressed as it does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 7, 1997, for the award of service connection for PTSD as a freestanding claim over which the Board does not have jurisdiction.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand, right foot, and left foot numbness as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, and also denied an increased rating for cardiac arrhythmia.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor event.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying stressor events in service. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is to be evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist who must consider the November 1952 and October 1954 STRs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and entitlement to TDIU were denied. The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors or a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's appeal was partially withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), tinnitus, and ear condition were remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. He is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for ischemic heart disease and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current disability levels.