PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of credible evidence supporting a diagnosis and no in-service stressor verified.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to his nonservice-connected sleep apnea and fatigue.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to August 26, 2010 and increased to 50 percent from that date until February 14, 2011. Since then, the Veteran has been assigned a 70 percent rating for his PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, based on direct evidence of a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is presumed to have been incurred during active duty service due to a stressor event in Germany.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a compensable evaluation for chronic sprain of the right ankle and an effective date prior to April 5, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected and his PTSD does not warrant a higher disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and changed theories of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor is not credible and does not support a finding of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or Depression.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's PTSD is now considered on its merits.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of PTSD or any psychiatric disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The case will also be adjudicated again in light of all evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis and post-service medical records showing onset of hypertension. Service connection on a secondary basis was also denied because there was no competent evidence linking the hypertension to his service-connected PTSD or herbicide exposure. For PTSD, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating from 30% to over 70% was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new examination by a psychiatrist, and considering the issue of an increased evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to discrepancies in the Veteran's reported PTSD symptoms and a need for updated medical examination. The claim is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, did not have its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to active duty. The cardiovascular disease to include hypertension was also denied as having had its clinical onset in service or being related to active duty.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is causally or etiologically due to service, and the Board grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is service-connected, but his PTSD claim was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to January 7, 2013 and 50 percent disabling from that date.,PTSD symptoms have changed such that the Veteran now meets criteria for a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding his claimed PTSD and scheduling him for a VA examination of his right knee.