PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and conducting a comprehensive VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for PTSD but now seeks an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other non-service connected psychiatric disorders, results in total occupational and social impairment. As such, a 100 percent rating is granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right arm fracture residuals, and tinnitus) are considered to render him incapable of participating in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the earliest date entitlement to a TDIU arose was June 11, 2010, and thus grants an effective date of that date for the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD were denied. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable, while his PTSD warranted a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has ordered additional development as requested by the Veteran, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) evidence. The appeal will be remanded for further review after these documents are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal of whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a heart disability, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's PTSD rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is due to a sexual trauma in service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed depression is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's spouse is denied basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because there is no evidence that the Veteran is totally and permanently disabled due to her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion on the impact of his service-connected PTSD on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his annual income information and a VA Social Industrial Survey to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board recharacterized the issues based on relevant case law, but did not address the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, which satisfies the statutory requirements for TDIU. However, the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment after February 2012.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the initial ratings of PTSD and depression, as well as prostate cancer prior to July 28, 2010.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the claim. His right hip disability remains rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for GERD.