PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for any pertinent medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation from December 30, 2004 to January 31, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a Social and Industrial Survey to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to in-service stressors involving personal assault and military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only as her loss of use at least one foot is not shown.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by various symptoms, leading to a finding of occupational and social impairment comparable to no worse than reduced reliability and productivity. The initial evaluation for PTSD is granted at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and review his claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorder. The RO will also determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously-denied claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at a 50 percent rating beginning May 4, 2010. Prior to that date, the evaluation remained at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 3, 2003 was denied. However, the Board granted staged ratings of 50 percent from March 3, 2003 and 70 percent from August 4, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to August 4, 2011 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA mental health treatment records and scheduling a new examination by a psychiatrist to assess the severity of the Veteran's PTSD. The examiner should also comment on whether alcohol abuse is secondary to or a symptom of the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease related to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his non-service-connected conditions, which include dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board finds that a 30 percent rating for PTSD is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis with PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling since October 16, 2002, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unemployable due to psychological symptoms, and the Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, requires additional development and remand. The claims file will be reviewed, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of alleged stressor events and a psychiatric evaluation to determine if the Veteran meets criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.