PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 13, 2007. The Board granted a higher rating for the appellant's PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion addressing the relationship between his current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequately explained rationales in previous decisions and incomplete development of certain issues, including service connection for low back injury, PTSD, and loss of peripheral vision.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder has been rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's death was caused by cirrhosis, which resulted from his self-treatment of PTSD with alcohol and drugs. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. However, since service connection has been granted, the DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot and dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD with sleep disturbance, depression, and dementia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain his VA treatment records. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his other diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for both PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are denied.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but determined new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim for PTSD. The decision is mixed as it addressed both issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and obtaining any outstanding treatment records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be held in abeyance pending resolution of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since October 23, 2007, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, and headaches due to head trauma. The merits of these claims will be addressed in a future remand.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran should also provide written authorizations for any treatment records from subsequent providers.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria provided in the Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.