PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he contends was incurred during his military service. The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to attend VA examinations.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address her claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcoholism is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, aiding in its production.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder or left wrist disability related to his military service. The evidence shows no in-service injury, and post-service treatment records do not show any link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD, the only service-connected condition prior to January 26, 2009, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's Graves' disease was denied as not related to service. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor could not be verified and there is no competent evidence relating any psychiatric disability to an in-service event, injury, or disease. As a result, service connection for PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder cannot be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% from July 23, 2007 to May 23, 2008. From May 24, 2008 to October 2, 2008, the rating increased to 70%. Since October 3, 2008, the Veteran has been rated at 50% for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, and mood due to near-continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish effective relationships. The Board finds that a 70 percent disability rating is warranted for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and entitlement to specially adapted housing as his service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or result in loss of use of extremities, blindness, or full thickness burns.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder NOS) will also be developed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 50 percent since January 5, 2012. The Board finds the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine applies to this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a clarifying medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities.

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 VA examination and clarification regarding the diagnosis and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.