PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is likely related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, is attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and major depressive disorder. The appeal was reopened on new evidence but the claims were ultimately denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not related to his service and therefore, he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, reopening of lumbar spine disability claim, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's fear of threatened death or serious injury during basic training in the Marine Corps is consistent with his military experiences and sufficient to produce PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% rating effective January 26, 2005. The initial compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy is being remanded.,A uniform 100% rating for PTSD has been granted throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and gastritis, finding that there was no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side for allergic rhinitis. The rating assigned for gastritis did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability (PTSD and DDD with use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications).

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 17, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran's disability picture does not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, pain disorder, depressive disorder, and cognitive impairment, has been rated at 70 percent since March 24, 2003. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating effective April 26, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating for diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include posttraumatic stress disorder) were denied. The decision does not specify the basis of denial for each issue.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or a depressive disorder that had its onset in service. The evidence did not support granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support a diagnosis of current and chronic PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is not related to service or causally related or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right ankle, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (chondromalacia patella of the knees and schizophrenia with PTSD) are found to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment since her claim for TDIU was received.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and whether his symptoms are related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.