PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 100% evaluation effective October 4, 2004. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence received in May 2012.

The Veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction, is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was not otherwise related to military service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's TDIU benefits, effective February 1, 1978, as the November 1977 termination was not proper and did not follow applicable regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board finds that the evidence does not establish any in-service event or symptoms that would entitle the appellant to service connection for multiple joint degenerative joint disease. The claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD based on personal assault is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of symptoms consistent with more severe disability levels.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records, provide a PTSD examination, and schedule another VA examination regarding his headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition and the Veteran did not provide credible support for his claimed in-service stressors. The TDIU issue is also denied due to the Veteran's current service-connected disabilities not precluding him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has expanded the service connection claim to include all of the Veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The case is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining a VA addendum medical opinion and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis has been granted, with a rating of 10% for the latter condition.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition and PTSD was granted. The skin condition is considered direct, while the PTSD is not linked to any specific exposure basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a disorder manifested by dizziness were denied as new and material evidence was not provided. The claim for PTSD with depressive disorder resulted in a 30% disability rating, effective from June 30, 2008. The claim for increased rating of bilateral pes planus remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective September 18, 1968. The rating assigned is 50 percent and the effective date of the grant of service connection is September 18, 1968. A separate effective date of September 12, 2006 was established for the assignment of a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment. The Board also found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD and TDIU is being remanded due to the need to consider recent evidence, including VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination and review of the evidence, including stressor confirmation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration of his claims, including those related to squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, depression, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss.