PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has PTSD that had its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and entitlement to an initial disability rating for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in excess of 50 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for any psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment from March 26, 2002 to January 4, 2007, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examination reports and Social Security Administration records to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA medical evaluation to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, and he meets the schedular requirements for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits due to his permanent total service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety disorder was granted service connection, but the RO increased his initial rating to 30 percent prior to December 7, 2009. The RO then increased the rating to 50 percent from December 7, 2009 to September 21, 2012.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, and bereavement disorder, are found to be related to his service in Vietnam. Vascular dementia is also found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD due to military sexual assault is granted. The Board also found credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims of other acquired psychiatric disorders, including mood disorder and depressive disorder, which are not related to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about when the USS Cape Cod was deployed in the Persian Gulf and attempting to corroborate any stressors. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to assess his current diagnoses of all psychiatric disorders and determine whether they are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD before a final decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO/AMC for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and considering his TDIU claim under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private psychiatric evaluations. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded to determine the current severity of his disability and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and panic disorder, is being remanded due to the need to develop his service personnel records and verify his claimed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his increased disability rating claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder first. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance until the increased disability rating claim is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and an examination, as well as to consider his claim for TDIU benefits.