PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the abdomen have been rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a teleconference hearing at the RO, and will schedule it as soon as possible.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities has been established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted effective from September 10, 1984.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated as noncompensably disabling from May 22, 2006 and then increased to 30 percent effective that date. The VA Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, D.C., awarded a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's PTSD from April 16, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need to obtain records of a court-martial involving her drill instructors during basic training and provide additional opportunity for evidence submission.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be deferred until the increased rating claim for PTSD has been adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining SSA records and any relevant VA medical treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA psychiatrist regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disability other than PTSD and whether it is related to service or any other condition. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD and diabetes mellitus) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 21, 2005. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, drug and alcohol addiction, disability of the feet, a disability of the left knee, and a disability of the right hand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pseudoseizures and PTSD, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since July 7, 2003. The Board finds that a TDIU rating is warranted from this date.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the appellant's service-connected PTSD, and has also determined that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disorder.

The Board has found that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to credible supporting evidence of a personal assault stressor during military service, and the medical opinions are in equipoise regarding the link between the current disability and this stressor.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as the evidence shows a diagnosis of PTSD due to in-service stressor events.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if the aggregate effect of his service-connected disabilities precludes him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including PTSD, depression disorder, anxiety disorder, TBI residuals, low back disorder, dental trauma, loss of sense of smell, and a claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to reschedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.