PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a lumbosacral spine strain and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and seek an opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, concussion with posttraumatic migraines, and his cause of death. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is held in abeyance.

The Veteran is entitled to a 50 percent rating for PTSD effective March 1, 2013. He also meets the criteria for TDIU since November 24, 2006.,The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the appellant's claims for DIC and DEA benefits, including obtaining an autopsy report and VA treatment records. The Veteran's death may be related to service-connected conditions or improper VA treatment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychotic disorder (claimed as nervous condition), personality disorder, and depression. The reasons include lack of verification of an in-service stressor for PTSD and denial of service connection due to failure to meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case on his claim for increased evaluation for a psychiatric disability and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as major depression, is related to her active service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD with depression is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, NOS, are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not the deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood required for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims except for service connection for a psychiatric disability and alcoholism. The remaining claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and for obtaining recent VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 30 percent evaluation from November 18, 2009 to July 15, 2012 and a 70 percent evaluation beginning July 16, 2012. The claim for service connection for headaches is pending. The claim for residuals of an upper back/neck injury was previously denied but new evidence did not reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as he has provided credible supporting evidence of a verified in-service stressor and his diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and VA treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after the development.

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

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated. The Veteran's PTSD and lumbosacral strain ratings, as well as his TDIU claim, will need to be reconsidered with new evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a contemporaneous examination of his PTSD.