PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if his psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be processed again with her current address provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but a VA examination is needed to determine the combined effects of all his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for an anxiety disorder with depression claimed as PTSD is April 1, 2008. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as the withdrawal of his initial claim occurred on March 1, 2011. The appropriate effective date is therefore March 9, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to May 10, 2007. The Board has now granted a 70 percent rating for the period from May 10, 2007 to July 2, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 100% disability rating effective March 30, 2007. The appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as he turned 26 years old on July 25, 2002 and the Veteran's disability occurred after that age.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's alleged stressor event in service and to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding his psychiatric disability. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss in the left ear, but not in the right ear. The Veteran's lower back strain and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's death was ruled accidental and the service-connected PTSD substantially contributed to his death. The Board has granted entitlement to service-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation for the period from November [redacted], 2004 through April [redacted], 2005 was not terminated due to him being a fugitive felon, and an overpayment of service-connected VA compensation benefits in the amount of $13,275.79 was not properly created.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for PTSD, which was initially assigned a 10 percent rating in February 2007. The Veteran now seeks higher ratings and also wishes to establish TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and an evaluation of his TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder without agoraphobia has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders and pulmonary disorder are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that a service-connected disability substantially contributed to the Veteran's death, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his claims for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lapse in time since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was granted, effective October 30, 2010. The effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is March 24, 2009.