PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for PTSD are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of either a back disability or PTSD, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective July 2, 1992. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of secondary service connection for substance abuse as a result of his PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), sleep disorder, and heart disorder related to Agent Orange exposure are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is medical evidence linking it to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was remanded due to the need for further development. His skin condition claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression was not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of impairment greater than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity; the rating assigned for his condition prior to January 13, 2010 is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied service connection for PTSD. The issues of TDIU are remanded as they are dependent on the nature and etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from his counseling and family doctor visits. An addendum opinion must be obtained regarding whether his service-connected psychiatric conditions prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed to determine if his service-connected PTSD contributed to it.

The Board has determined that the appellant's under other than honorable conditions discharge should not prevent him from receiving VA benefits due to his insanity at the time he went AWOL. However, further medical opinion is needed to reconcile a June 2005 private opinion with an in-service mental status evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when analyzed as a whole, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied. The rating for PTSD was restored to 50% but the effective date remains unchanged. There is no grant of an earlier effective date for increased ratings or TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and no confirmed stressor related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have Parkinson's disease and his tremors are best characterized as essential/familial tremors. The service connection claims for familial tremors and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and a mood disorder) were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss. The case is being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The claim for TDIU will also be addressed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of PTSD due to his withdrawal at a September 2013 hearing. The issue of an increased rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is referred back to the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to issues with corroborating his stressors and obtaining his complete service personnel records.