PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's headaches are also found to be related to her service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left arm muscle injury and denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's left forearm injury is considered incurred in service, but there is no evidence to support the claim that he developed PTSD as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a PTSD examination, and considering the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from May 6, 2009 through May 8, 2009 at Maine Medical Center were approved due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unavailability of VA facilities that could have provided the necessary care.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is attributable to service, but he does not have PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined evaluation of 80 percent, which meets the minimum schedular criteria for TDIU. The Board finds that his unemployability is due to his service-connected disabilities and grants the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment since the date of claim (May 24, 2007).,Coronary artery disease was granted service connection with an initial rating of 50 percent from May 1, 2011 to August 28, 2011 and from October 1, 2011.

The Board is remanding the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder did not undergo a permanent increase in severity due to service, and whether any current psychiatric disorder had its onset in active service or is otherwise causally related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease status post bypass surgery associated with hypertension was granted an initial rating of 30 percent from February 18, 2004, to July 7, 2010, and a subsequent increased rating to 60 percent effective July 8, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following actions: (1) issuance of a statement of the case addressing his claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from November 15, 1994 to September 4, 2000; and (2) review of his claim for an effective date prior to April 25, 2002, for TDIU. The claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychological disability, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma, has been remanded for further development and an additional VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for PTSD remains in appellate status due to the remand from the Board. The RO/AMC is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records and associate them with his claims file before issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is found to have originated during his service in Afghanistan, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.