PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD due to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service in Vietnam. The Board finds the stressor is consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of his service and grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and updated treatment records. The TDIU claim will be deferred as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling and the claim for a higher rating has been denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including homicidal ideation, impaired short-term memory, irritability, rage towards others, nightmares, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance, dysphoric mood/affect, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted with a 50% initial rating effective September 2, 2011. The appeal is for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of her PTSD, gastroenteritis, and TDIU claims. The case will be adjudicated again after these developments.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to July 27, 2011. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. TDIU was granted for the period between June 1, 2011 and July 26, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination, and considering the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's son is not eligible for Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits because the Veteran has not been adjudicated to have a permanent and total disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's May 10, 2002 correspondence constitutes a claim to reopen her previously denied PTSD claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at May 10, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and has not been decided. The issues of service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not etiologically related to her service and denied her claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to February 5, 2010 was denied. The claim for TDIU prior to May 10, 2011 was also denied due to the Veteran not completing and returning VA Form 21-8940.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, residuals of a traumatic brain injury, and PTSD due to lack of evidence meeting the diagnostic criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with history of insomnia are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current level of disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has found that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains on appeal.