PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to incomplete steps taken by the RO. The case is now being returned to the RO for completion of the requested actions and readjudication.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mental stress, anxiety, and depression. The appeal was decided on the merits without any presumption or new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination of his PTSD. The current evaluation remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation file and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service combat exposure and has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also part of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further adjudication of a CUE claim and the issuance of a statement of the case regarding service connection issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiological and psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since October 27, 2009.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and a 70% disability rating for PTSD was assigned effective from December 20, 2012. The decision also addressed the initial rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability was denied in March 2004 and again in May 2006. New evidence received since the May 2006 decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain disability was denied in March 2004 and again in May 2006. New evidence received since the May 2006 decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in September 2004. New and material evidence has been received, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's L4-S1 fusion surgery required six months of convalescence, but further doctor-mandated convalescence was not demonstrated and the surgery did not result in severe postoperative residuals or immobilization. The criteria for a temporary total disability rating beyond February 29, 2008 based on need for convalescence following surgical treatment were not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder disability and for updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his claimed adjustment disorder. The issues of service connection for both conditions will be reconsidered after any new evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment prior to December 9, 2011.