PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his lay testimony alone, combined with medical evidence confirming the occurrence of in-service stressors and a link to current symptoms, establishes that he incurred PTSD during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a below-the-knee amputation of his left leg, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and other residuals from military service, render him unemployable due to the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective November 24, 2004. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD and grants TDIU based on the current 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and PTSD were rated at a 10 percent prior to January 10, 2007. The Board found that the evidence supported an initial 50 percent evaluation for these conditions during this period.

The Board has expanded the claim to include all psychiatric disabilities and is remanding for further development, including obtaining additional stressor verification, VA mental health treatment records, and SSA disability decision records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with psychotic features, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since June 18, 2009. The RO has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD effective from November 10, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and is remanding the PTSD claim for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and determine if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to grant an increased evaluation. The Veteran's employment history does not support a finding of total disability due to service-connected PTSD.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and denied his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and there is no evidence establishing a link between any psychiatric disorder and his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service personal assault and harassment, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including the neck and ribs, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues of service connection and severance of service connection. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his disability level. The TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus was granted as the evidence supported these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, a new VA examination, and proper development of the TDIU claim.