PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since the grant of service connection, and he is now seeking higher ratings for his PTSD. The TDIU issue remains on appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence received since the August 2007 rating decision relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other diagnosed conditions, results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. However, the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the increase in pre-existing retinitis pigmentosa during active service was due to its natural progression, and not attributable to service. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending as his rating has been increased to 100% effective February 13, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his substantive appeal for the evaluation of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for attempts to be made to obtain and associate with the claims file any outstanding mental health service records in compliance with the Court's April 2012 order granting the parties' JMR. If additional records are obtained, an addendum medical opinion should reflect consideration of this additional information.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for further development, including a VA examination and social industrial survey to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it has been reasonably raised by the record.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he has passed away.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board finds that the Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and a depressive disorder, which are linked to his active service in Vietnam. Therefore, the criteria for establishing service connection have been met.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are found to be related to her military service, granting service connection for these conditions. The issues of secondary service connection for headaches (to include as secondary to PTSD) and left knee disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC at the 'o' level due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's request to substitute as a claimant on the issue of whether a June 2002 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD contained clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The appeal is being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's symptoms of PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a higher initial disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating for this disability. The Board found that his symptoms have not significantly changed and do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent from November 29, 2010. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 50 percent.