PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as his symptoms are related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his service in the Gulf War.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that there is sufficient corroborative evidence to support her reported in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, PAD, AAA, and DM were found to be a likely contributing factor in his death. The Veteran was granted DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining private and VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's April 1995 claim for nonservice-connected pension should be construed as a claim for service connection for PTSD due to his drug and alcohol addiction. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at April 11, 1995.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of arguments submitted by his attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran met the criteria for a current PTSD diagnosis or that any additional current psychiatric diagnoses were related to his active duty service.

The Board found that there is no verified in-service stressor for the Veteran's claimed PTSD, and thus service connection cannot be established. The conditions of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and mild anxiety are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence that the claimed stressor occurred during his military service and the VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's major depression and schizoaffective disorder are service-connected, but his PTSD claim is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 4, 2013. The rating is based on the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to January 7, 2013, more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. From January 7, 2013, the symptoms did not approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with organic brain syndrome is currently rated at 50 percent, effective January 20, 2004. The Board finds that the current rating of 70 percent is warranted based on the severity and duration of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since October 1, 2012. The rating is based on the severity of her symptoms and their impact on her occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100% since January 31, 2010, due to total occupational and social impairment.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and his unemployability is found to be a result of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records, and for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and chronic headache disabilities. The RO should also consider a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 50 percent prior to March 19, 2008 and a maximum 100 percent rating from February 1, 2011. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.