PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD was productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from April 21, 2008 to September 19, 2009, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD in June 2008, finding that there were no verified stressors. The April 2010 rating decision by the RO determined that new and material evidence had not been received sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claim and denied it on the merits.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of difficulties ranging from mild to moderate, resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board found that there is no verified or credible stressor upon which a diagnosis of PTSD was based, and thus service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent since July 25, 2005. The symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411 for PTSD. The VA examiner found that his symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD and assigned him an initial 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, headaches, low back disability, neck disability, and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened. The evidence now supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and denied the claim.

The Board found the Veteran's allegations of a personal assault in service not credible and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of record to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors and for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD with depression, and for any additional relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression is being remanded due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The VA will attempt to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records, verify his claimed in-service stressors, and schedule him for a VA examination.

The Board has scheduled a videoconference hearing for the Veteran and is remanding the case back to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO) for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely Notice of Disagreement to the February 2009 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD. The skin disability claim was denied as there is no evidence showing it is related to active duty service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is likely due to a physical assault he experienced during his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and MDD, are related to her service, particularly her father's death during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss will also be addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the criteria for this condition. The decision grants a higher disability rating than initially assigned.