PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat service in Vietnam and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has not met the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to October 7, 2009 and from October 7, 2009 onwards.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The other issues regarding secondary service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD prior to May 20, 2011 and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability did not manifest in service and was not related to any in-service event, injury, or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 1, 2013 or 70 percent from that date. The current assigned ratings are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, fracture of the right ankle, and burns. The appeal is currently pending with further development required.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since April 1, 2005. The Board granted a higher rating of 70 percent effective February 26, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. This includes obtaining a new VA examination to determine if the current psychiatric conditions are related to service, particularly the alleged rape in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, has been reopened. The Board also remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board found that his disability picture more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to a service-connected disability, and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's residuals of a right wrist fracture with osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5214. The Veteran does not have ankylosis.,For PTSD from August 5, 2008 to December 18, 2011, the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 70 percent as he demonstrated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but without evidence of flattened affect or panic attacks more than once a week. Since December 19, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, drug dependency, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability (excluding PTSD) have been denied. The Veteran's drug dependency is not service-connected as it was the result of willful misconduct.

The Board found that the Veteran was not rated 100% disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death, and thus denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, conducting a VA examination, and considering the evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat experience in Vietnam and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to her reported sexual assaults during service, and the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her active duty service. As such, the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.