PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including determining the outcome of the appellant's application to upgrade his discharge and considering evidence regarding his mental state during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 23, 2008 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The earliest effective date allowed by law and regulation for the grant of service connection for PTSD is January 23, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD and right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for psychiatric disability, including PTSD, as a result of treatment at a VA facility. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to assess the nature and etiology of his mental health disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment, without considering his age and nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as PTSD/personal assault, is not service-connected. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and determining whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be granted. The Veteran's symptoms have been diagnosed as depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, panic attacks, depression and bipolar disorder, are related to her service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to procedural defects in the reduction of his PTSD rating from 100 percent to 50 percent effective January 1, 2010. The RO/AMC must consider the relevant regulations pertaining to rating reductions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and finds it more likely than not related to his active duty service, including the verified stressor involving the death of his friend in a motor vehicle accident. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 6, 1999 for the award of service connection for PTSD.

Service connection is granted for pulmonary amyloidosis due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran did not provide credible evidence of a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence from a VA examiner and treatment records.

The Board found no current evidence of a seizure disorder and denied service connection for this condition. The Veteran's prostate cancer was not linked to his military service, and the claim is denied. Service connection for PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or anxiety with panic attacks could not be established based on the available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings following the award of service connection for PTSD with Anxiety Disorder NOS has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in the level of occupational and social impairment required for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran had PTSD during his lifetime and whether it contributed to his death. The appeal is being remanded again due to incomplete records.