PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and his PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds a remand necessary to obtain VA treatment records and provide the Veteran with a new VA psychiatric examination for his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms align with the DSM-IV criteria and his in-service stressors are credible. The claim was reopened due to new evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has these conditions that began during active service or are related to an incident of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or COPD, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, chronic headaches, and TDIU are still pending. The psychiatric claim is in progress with a reopened status due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the chronic headaches claim remains in progress. The TDIU claim is also in progress.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a TDIU is July 6, 2006, as it was factually ascertainable that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD from this date onward.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional clinical treatment records and a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective August 5, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms of reduced reliability and productivity are not sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since November 29, 2004 and was increased to 70 percent effective October 13, 2011. The initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 10, 2007 is maintained.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, given his education and occupational background, from June 19, 2004, to December 13, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 4, 2005 and denied for a higher rating. On and after February 4, 2005, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his service in Vietnam and experienced stressors related to this engagement.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify his in-service stressor and obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD related to an in-service stressor, and his dysthymic disorder is not shown to be caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The issues of secondary service connection for PTSD and Dysthymic Disorder are therefore mixed.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability in service or due to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been granted. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at a hearing. The case is remanded to obtain additional development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.