PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that the Veteran experienced or witnessed an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of others during his military service, which supports a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, the Board granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated at 50 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anatomical loss of the left eye and cataract in the right eye, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Therefore, his claim for a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, psychiatric disorders, knee and hip disabilities, and asbestosis were denied. The Board found no verified stressor events related to service, no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions, and insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service.,There is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressor events occurred.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying the alleged stressor events in service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by symptoms that are the equivalent of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Total occupational and social impairment due to PTSD has not been shown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD substantially contributed to his death, as evidenced by the Veteran's dementia and other conditions listed on his death certificate.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service, specifically as a door gunner in Vietnam, and the Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's account of his alleged in-service sexual assault and the need for a VA examination to determine if he likely experienced the assault as alleged, and whether any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 50 percent, does not alone prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation as they are consistent with reduced reliability and productivity rather than deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence supporting her claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a temporary total rating due to hospital treatment for PTSD, and his claims of service connection for back and right knee disorders have been denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination. The issue of increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was raised but not adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder NOS or anxiety disorder NOS, was not incurred as a result of service. The RO denied service connection for flat feet, right knee, and left knee disabilities in 2007, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims. The Veteran's tinnitus is already assigned the highest schedular rating.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for PTSD. As a result, the Veteran's claims for headaches, chest pain, and gastrointestinal disability secondary to his PTSD are also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since July 24, 2007. For the entire appeal period prior to December 5, 2012, he was granted a rating of 70 percent for his PTSD. After December 5, 2012, he received a 50 percent rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent prior to June 10, 2010. As of June 10, 2010, the rating was increased to 50 percent.