PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 20, 2012. The rating is granted as the disability picture shows occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression with possible PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10% prior to June 4, 2004, and increased to 50% thereafter. The heart disability remained at 60%, then 100% until April 29, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with additional medical records from his treatment at the Spokane VAMC.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, diagnosed as PTSD and major depressive disorder, are found to be related to his in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 50 percent since July 13, 1994. The symptoms include anxiety, depression, sleep impairment, irritability, intrusive thoughts, concentration problems, startle response, memory issues, and occasional violent outbursts, resulting in moderate social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas for the period from December 11, 2006 to January 27, 2008. The Board granted a 70 percent rating during this period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including determining the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability and if there are supporting stressors for PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, but the decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not. The Veteran's appeal involves secondary service connection for hypertension due to PTSD or CAD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions and insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are sufficiently severe to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression, cannot be granted as there is no credible supporting evidence of a verified in-service stressor or any link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 2, 2005. The disability picture shows serious but not total impairment in occupational and social functioning.

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

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.