PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, which was previously denied in September 2005. The Board also found that the Veteran's PTSD was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and resulting major depression have been granted, with a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 23, 2008, for the grant of service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia was denied as there is no legal entitlement to such a benefit.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete verification of the appellant's claimed stressor. The appellant is seeking service connection for PTSD, which was diagnosed based on a reported incident involving two soldiers being killed or injured during a parachute jump at Fort Bragg in January 1966.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for PTSD in November 2008, finding that the Veteran lacked a valid diagnosis of PTSD based on a verified inservice stressor. The RO denied the application to reopen the claim in May 2009, concluding that new and material evidence had not been submitted since the Board's decision. The additional evidence presented did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more contemporaneous psychiatric evaluation and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The Board granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran has PTSD as a result of verified in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depression can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD was denied by the RO, as the evidence did not support an increase in disability beyond 30 percent.

The Veteran's death was due to septic complications of intravenous drug use, with osteomyelitis and intravenous drug use contributing to the cause. The service-connected PTSD contributed materially to his death.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss claims due to his incarceration at Deerfield Correctional Center. The RO/AMC will attempt to arrange transportation or contact the correctional facility to conduct these examinations, or schedule them off-site if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA examination results for PTSD and additional SSA records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD due to recent symptom worsening and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 50 percent prior to April 10, 2012. The VA determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted as of October 23, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his service, including whether he experienced a stressor event during his deployment in Iraq.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not have a diagnosed disability.,For PTSD, the Veteran received an initial rating of 30 percent prior to May 1, 2013 and increased to 50 percent since that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder and MDD, remains on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim and found new evidence sufficient to establish that the Veteran's PTSD is due to a personal assault during her ACDUTRA period, but not related to service.