PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and efforts to corroborate his reported stressors and service in Vietnam. The claims will be reviewed again after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his PTSD was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were discontinued from October 18, 2007 to February 9, 2008 due to his status as a fugitive felon.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of an extra-schedular evaluation due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, tinnitus, a scalp laceration scar, and PTSD. The issues include secondary service connection for hypertension, rating adjustments for PTSD, and an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA medical records and any relevant private treatment records. The issues are inextricably intertwined with a TDIU issue that was previously remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to June 17, 2011, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating in excess of 50 percent due to symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of mood and motivation, difficulty establishing social relationships, intrusive thoughts, and multiple nightmares per week. The disability picture was characterized by reduced reliability and productivity but did not reach the level of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that had its onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and will adjudicate the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease after obtaining the requested records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD due to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD/anxiety disorder was denied, and the propriety of reducing his hiatal hernia rating from 30 percent to 10 percent effective June 1, 2012 was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD, as there is credible supporting evidence of a stressor and medical evidence linking the diagnosis to the in-service stressor. The Veteran's migraine headaches are non-prostrating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD and to consider private medical evidence. The Veteran seeks a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in severe impairment, with total occupational and social impairment from April 25, 1995. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notification regarding in-service personal assault stressors and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to these incidents.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain records from her incarceration at Riverfront State Prison in New Jersey.