PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but finds that further development is necessary due to conflicting diagnoses and incomplete medical records. The case is remanded for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining service personnel records and private medical records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to PTSD, and alcoholism as secondary to PTSD are held in abeyance.

The Veteran's appeals for increased PTSD and service connection for numbness of the right leg have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess her current PTSD symptoms and severity.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) decision and supporting medical records, and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective January 29, 2007. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty in understanding complex commands, and impaired impulse control.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective May 15, 2012. His bilateral cataracts remain noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms without warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression and alcohol dependence caused severe impairment in his ability to establish effective relationships, warranting a 70% rating from December 27, 1988, to May 5, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death due to an accidental heroin overdose was at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of PTSD and its impact on employment. The TDIU issue is also being considered in conjunction with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to November 1, 2012 and granted a TDIU from March 5, 2009 to October 31, 2012. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and has granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and an organic mental disorder materially contributed to his death, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has remanded this issue for further development and consideration. For dermatitis, a compensable rating remains denied as there is no evidence of more than topical therapy required.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's substance abuse is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his mental health conditions.