PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's TBI and PTSD have been granted, but the Board has determined that neither condition warrants a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 50 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU. The claims for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy, bronchitis, swelling of joints in the upper extremities, sleep apnea, and low back disorder are all denied. Service connection was reopened for atrial fibrillation with hypertension and mitral valve insufficiency and low back disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a VA examination to determine his employability status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, that is related to his military service. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of such conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to incomplete stressor verification and further development of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted, with an effective date of August 26, 2006. The Board found that the evidence supported his unemployability due to service-connected disability as of August 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO/AMC for further development, including issuance of a supplemental statement of the case and scheduling an additional VA psychiatric examination. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD (Adjustment Disorder with Anxious Mood), were granted. However, his claim for a low back disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 22, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation and education folder, and another opinion regarding his employability based on the cumulative effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as reconcile the findings with the Veteran's contentions and those of his treating physician. The Veteran must be scheduled for an in-person examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, SSA disability benefits records, and a new VA psychiatric examination. The claims will be adjudicated again based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision and is REMANDED.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of whether his PTSD renders him unemployable. The case will be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) if the schedular requirements are not met.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his PTSD with depressive disorder has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, except PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending and is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.