PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security disability records and issuing a statement of the case regarding her PTSD rating. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains on hold until it can be adjudicated properly.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, and for nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to March 1, 2011. The record did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and mental health treatment records. The VA will also request an addendum opinion on the issue of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine whether symptoms attributable to PTSD warrant an increased disability rating and to address the Veteran's claim of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a claimed in-service stressor involving an F-105 jet crash, and for obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action due to a recent decision by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an increased disability evaluation for his knee condition have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since December 15, 2004. The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was pneumonia and sepsis, is not related to service or his service-connected conditions (PTSD, malaria, and tonsillitis). The VA opinions provided are considered significant probative value in determining that the Veteran's death was not caused by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss during the June 2010 Board hearing. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claim of service connection for PTSD is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy and PTSD for accrued benefits purposes, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service herbicide exposure and fear of hostile military action, respectively.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and PTSD, has been reopened. His pseudofolliculitis barbae is now rated at 60% effective March 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during service, has a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is a medical nexus between the claimed stressors and the current PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outdated examination and lack of social and industrial survey. The Veteran's PTSD evaluation, as well as his TDIU claim, will be reconsidered after all necessary evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and DDD with L2-L3 disc bulge have resulted in unemployability, but the combined rating does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board has referred the case to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to the Veteran's pregnancy-related limitations.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 23, 2008 for a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The appeal is based on a diagnosis of PTSD and other related conditions but no direct evidence linking these conditions to service was provided.