PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his gastric cancer.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was found to not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 4, 2012 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and Vet Center records and providing a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability evaluation for the entire rating period prior to September 20, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need to verify an in-service stressor and obtain his complete personnel file. A VA psychiatric examination will also be conducted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and clarifying whether his August 2010 substantive appeal was intended as a notice of disagreement with the rating for TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD with major depressive disorder and obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD met the criteria for a 50 percent rating as of June 18, 2009. The effective date is set at this time.

The Veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective June 1, 2010. The Board finds no evidence of a need for an extension of the temporary total rating beyond the initial hospitalization period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms that are the equivalent of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Total occupational and social impairment has not been shown.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including keloid scars, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a cervical spine disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim regarding keloid scars, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's claims and the need to clarify whether the claimed stressors occurred during service.

The Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The VA examiner found no evidence of PTSD and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since August 1, 2007. The VA Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but denied the Veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both feet. The temporary 100 percent evaluation based on convalescence due to surgery of the cervical spine in 2008 is also granted.